A Southern Season Sold

Syndicated from CaryCitizen. Story by Hal Goodtree. Photo by Jessica Yin.

Chapel Hill, NC – A short drive from Pittsboro is A Southern Season, one of the state’s most wonderful and famous places to buy food, cooking implements, home wares and more. I was interested to learn that the business was recently sold to a prestigious group of local investors.

From 800 Square Feet to 60,000

Founded in late 1975 by Michael Barefoot, A Southern Season grew from a ole proprietor operation in 800 square feet to 60,000 square feet of retail space in University Mall and more than 300 employees.

Wine, cheese, chocolates, gift baskets, plates, gadgets, decorations, Southern favorites, A Southern Season is a vast emporium of deliciousness. The store is regularly featured in the national media and was recently ranked among America’s 25 Best Independent Stores.

Local Investors Jump In

TC Capital Fund, headed by Chapel Hill entrepreneur Clay Hamner, invested a significant amount of growth capital into the company, according to a press release from the company.

TC Capital Fund is a joint venture between two other Chapel Hill Investment funds – Carrboro Capital and Tryon Capital Ventures.

The founders of Carrboro Capital are Chapel Hill residents Clay Hamner, Betty Kenan and Phil Phillips and the founders of Tryon Capital are Pete Coker and Peter Reichard. Tryon Capital is also headquartered in Chapel Hill.

“A core part of our mission has always been ‘local ownership and operation’.” says founder Michael Barefoot. “That will not change; ownership remains local in this new corporate structure … we will now be positioned to grow to the next level.”

Customer Turned Investor

“For most of A Southern Season’s history,” added Barefoot, “Clay has been a loyal customer and supporter of the philosophy and values of what we’re all about. As the company experienced the economic downturn in early 2009, like other businesses did, Hamner initiated discussions about helping the company grow.”

“We have stayed in close communication since, and finally, all the pieces came together. His long-respected local profile along with the other local investors was definitely a key part of our decision. They absolutely relate to this Chapel Hill institution on a very personal level and share our commitment to keeping A Southern Season something very, very special.”

Barefoot Stays Involved

Michael Barefoot will continue to play an active role in the business, along with longtime partners Tim Manale and Briggs Wesche.

Regarding the impact of the sale on his personal future, Barefoot said, “This is the first step in a slow transition away from work. After 36 years, I think that it’s about time. I will be fully engaged at A Southern Season for the next five years, after which I plan to reduce my involvement to pursue other challenges and interests which I have not been able to do as I was growing A Southern Season.”