Southern Season in Chapel Hill is now permanently closed.
Calvert Retail, which owns the longtime anchor tenant, announced in November that the store will be closing in early 2020 after more than 44 years.
“Southern Season is an incredible business, and I firmly believe that the concept is part of the future of retail; However, it requires a more robust organization and more capital than I can provide as a small business owner,” Calvert Retail owner Eric Brinsfield said in the release announcing the closing. “I have made the difficult decision to close the Chapel Hill retail store and focus on our online business from our facility in Graham, NC.”
Signs at Southern Season owned-and-operated restaurant Weathervane were posted on November 11 announcing that the restaurant was closed.
Calvert Retail purchased Southern Season through bankruptcy proceedings in 2016.
University Place was purchased by Ram Realty Advisors in late 2018 and the new ownership group has submitted plans for a major redevelopment to the entire mall and surface-level parking lot.
So sorry to hear of its closing. However, I went from shopping there at least once a week, to maybe once every six months. The store totally lost it uniqueness with one of the latter sales. They carried many of the same things I could find at HT or Southpointe Mall.
Agree with above comment. Inventory reduced to basically peanuts by the can or sack. SS used to be a mecca, a bazaar of good, hard to find food items and a spectacular array of kitchen equipment. So sad to see it whither into its decline, especially in the last two years.
Very sad to see this store close.
It didn’t have to happen. Unfortunately, Clay Hamner had his own agenda and milked it into almost bankruptcy, taking advantage of his investors. Then, the guy that bought it had no experience with a high-end store such as this and would NOT work with nor listen to the long-time, experienced managers. It was doomed for a long time, but again, it could have been still thriving with proper management.
I too am so hurt to know that this has happened to another original retail store in the mall. I live here in Florida and I can tell you that stores like Southern Seasons do not exist here. The quality of that store does not exist in any stores here. I shall always remember Southern Seasons. Roses was also a great store. Only on boutique that is original still there. Hang in the Mayo.