In the fall of 1992, REM released Automatic for the People, one of their most popular and best-selling albums. The title comes from the slogan of Weaver D’s Delicious Fine Foods, a soul food restaurant in the band’s hometown of Athens, Georgia. Dexter Weaver, who opened the place in 1986, used the phrase “automatic for the people” instead of “thank you” when customers got their order.
When it came time to release the album, Michael Stipe sought permission from Dexter to use his catchphrase, and he obviously said “yes.” Weaver D’s did well for years but ran into financial trouble. However, the place was so popular that customers rallied and bailed it out.
But all things must come to an end. Dexter put the restaurant up for sale in October 2025 but was unable to find a buyer. It closed on February 26, 2026, after 40 years in business.
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