Working from opening to closing, Bruce and Bob couldn't count on a regular paycheck for themselves. Money was tight at the newly opened Mt. Shasta diner, so each Monday, they eagerly opened the jukebox to see how many quarters they had from guests playing their favorite songs. Quickly dubbed 'Jukebox Monday,' the guys began paying themselves in silver from the music machine!
With a population of 3,600 and just over an hour from the Oregon border, the small mountain town of Mt. Shasta, CA is an unlikely birthplace for a thriving restaurant concept.
Luckily for all of us, when our founders Bruce Dean and Bob Manley opened the original Black Bear Diner in 1995, they had a much simpler idea for their cozy diner nestled in the forest.
"We didn't do this thinking it would ever be much more than: Bob & I wanted to run a restaurant, and maybe we could have a place to invite our friends to", explains Bruce.
Bob agrees, "That was the start: what it was like to be from a small town, where things were safe, where kids could be a part of things and moms didn't worry, where you got more than you thought you were going to get, and everything was bigger than you'd dreamed it would be."
Twenty-nine years and nearly a 160 diners later, their shared vision of what a small town, community diner should be is reborn in every diner we open.
"It's simple, really," continues Bruce. "Guests want to enjoy great food in a welcoming environment and be served by friendly staff. They want to feel their hard-earned dollar is appreciated. Folks can count on that every time they come to a Black Bear Diner"
We've always delivered on the promise of big portions of quality food in a great environment.
-Bruce
"When we first started out, people would drive 50 or 60 miles to come to Black Bear, because they said it just feels different than any other place they'd go," Bob remembers. "Bruce's food is always bigger than they thought, and better quality than they thought. And they started asking us 'can we have a Black Bear in our town?' " Bob recalls. "Until that point, we had never thought of being more than one family diner in one small town."
As Bob explains, "A brand is an expression of internal values, of internal visions, of things that come from someplace other than just the financial model. So, the more that Bruce was able to express his passion for those values through his food and operations, and the more I could express those values through the hospitality and the concept, the more we thought that
...this brand was becoming something bigger than both of us. It had its own heart.
-Bob
Staying true to these original values is the foundation of Black Bear Diner's success today. We continue to share Bruce and Bob's passion with every plate of food you enjoy, and every experience shared at Black Bear Diner.
From all of us:
Thank You! We look forward to seeing you again, and again, at 'The Bear.'
- Mount Shasta, California
- Island Breakfast Tacos
Flour tortillas stuffed with eggs scrambled with taco-seasoned beef, onion, and cheddar cheese, topped with a spicy chipotle aioli, avocado and cilantro. Served with sweet & spicy pineapple-jalapeno salsa, fresh fruit, and choice of side. - Luau Crispy Chicken
Hand breaded boneless buttermilk marinated chicken, fried golden to order, topped with sweet & spicy pineapple-jalapeno salsa. Served with pineapple-jalapeno coleslaw and sweet potato fries. - Blazin' BBQ beef
Slow-braised beef in a spicy pepper BBQ sauce on a brioche bun with chipotle aioli, pickled jalapenos, homemade crispy onion straws & sweet & spicy pineapple-jalapeno coleslaw. Served with your choice of side. - Pina Colada Pancakes
Sweet cream pancakes topped with a whipped pina colada cream, homemade pineapple topping, fresh banana and toasted coconut.
Tall on Flavor
Each served with your choice of side.
- Double Bacon Stack
Homemade brown sugar-maple bacon jam, melted American cheese, two eggs, crispy thick-cut bacon, avocado and homemade onion straws on a garlic Parmesan buttered & toasted brioche-bun. - Hand Breaded Crispy Chicken Stack
A boneless buttermilk-marinated chicken breast coated with our specially seasoned flour, deep fried a golden-brown then stacked high with leaf lettuce, tomato, dill pickle and mayonnaise on a buttered & toasted brioche bun. - Tri-Tip Cheddar Stack
Our famous Santa Maria seasoned tri-tip is thinly sliced and stacked with cheddar cheese, homemade onion straws and our homemade garlic-Dijon aioli, all on a garlic Parmesan buttered & toasted brioche bun. - Crispy Cod Stack
Two lightly battered and deep-fried cod fillets, stacked on a buttered toasted brioche bun slathered with our own special 500 Sauce (equal parts of our homemade 1000 Island & tartar sauce), leaf lettuce, tomato and dill pickles.
- Get what you want, when you want it, the way you want it.
- Breakfast: Bear's Choice
- Lunch: Chicken Avocado Club
- Dinner: Bigfoot Chicken Fried Steak
- Dessert: Chocolate Cream Pie
Nutritional Menu
- Fruit
- 2 Sweet Cream Pancakes
- 3 Eggs
- 2 Slices of Bacon
- 2 Sausage Links
- 1 Ham Steak
Chicken Fried Steak and Eggs
- 10oz. Beef
- Country Potatoes
- Eggs up
- Biscuits
- House Chopped Salad Mix
- Chopped Burger Patty
- Thick-Cut Smoked Bacon
- Dill Pickle Chips
- Tomato
- Red Onion
- Cheddar Cheese
- Ask For: Ranch Dressing
From our Low Carb Page: [eatlife.net/keto/black-bear-diner.php#bacon-cheeseburger-salad]
- Salad Mix
- Chopped Crispy Chicken Tenders
- Cherry Tomato
- Crispy Bacon
- Hard-Boiled Egg
- Diced Avocado
- Bleu Cheese Crumbles
- Red Onion
- Croutons
- Ranch Dressing
- Seasoned Ground Beef
- Crispy Tostada Bowl
- Refried Beans
- House Chopped Salad Mix
- Tomato
- Onion
- Olive
- Cheddar Cheese
- Jack Cheese
- Pickled Jalapeno
- Avocado
- Cilantro
- Salsa
- Bacon Ranch Dressing
10 oz of marinated tri-tip seasoned with a Santa Maria blend of spices including garlic, cracked black pepper, salt and fresh parsley.
- Side: Italian Green Beans with Bacon
- Side: Seasonal Vegetables (Broccoli)
- Baby Burn Original
- Mama Burn Chipotle
- Papa Burn Habanero
Original Pepper Sauce
Chipotle Pepper Sauce
Habanero Pepper Sauce
In 1902, the 26th President of the United States refused to shoot a black bear while out hunting. So popular was Theodore Roosevelt that toy bears were created to celebrate the event. And so was born the Teddy (Roosevelt) Bear. Strange to say, almost all teddy bears are brown instead of black.
just pushin my luck
your dog thinks you are!
to keep quiet!
Need a hug!
before my body knows what I'm up to
is a woman rolling her eyes
and forget to start?
as my dog thinks I am!
can't make me happy!
Bear Country
There's no Place like Cave
Working from opening to closing, Bruce and Bob couldn't count on a regular paycheck for themselves. Money was tight at the newly opened Mt. Shasta diner, so each Monday, they eagerly opened the jukebox to see how many quarters they had from guests playing their favorite songs. Quickly dubbed 'Jukebox Monday,' the guys began paying themselves in silver from the music machine!
At last Bearadise
Everyone enjoys the signature bear carvings done for Black Bear Diner by Ray Schulz from Washington State. Ray has been making our bears since 1999 and has carved over 200 bears for Black Bear Diner so far.
Carved out of cedar logs that Ray purchases from private loggers in Washington, the bears are styled to reflect unique aspects of the area the restaurant is located. Ray has created such diverse bears as skiing bears to farmer bears to hunters and cowboys! Of course, most impressive of all is the 12' giant Black Bear, which is a common sight at each of our restaurants.
To be the pre-eminent family dining concept, providing excellent food and value, served in a fun, uniquely bear themed atmosphere by friendly, committed and knowledgable employees.
- To be a company of integrity that believes in a win / win outlook in all that we do.
- To be a company that values the contributions and hard work of all of our employees.
- To be a company that truly values each and every customer.
- To be a company of passion and energy, which creates a fun but professional atmosphere.
- To be a company that stands for excellence in all that we do, down to the last detail.
- To be a company that celebrates the best in being human. Old fashioned values. Sense of humor. Being the best we can be.
- Bruce & Michelle Dean
- Bob & Laurie Manley
Co-Founder and President, started in the restaurant business in 1970 as a dishwasher
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Black Bear Diner
WIKIPEDIABlack Bear Diner
A restaurant chain in the Western United States which serves homestyle and "old-fashioned" comfort foods.
- The first restaurant was opened in Mount Shasta, California in 1995
- Founded by Bruce Dean and Bob & Laurie Manley.
- Based in Redding, California.
- 156 locations in 13 states (As of January 2024).
- Black Bear decor has a rustic motif with "over-the-top bear paraphernalia."
- Every restaurant is decorated with a 12-foot-tall black bear carving by artist Ray Schulz. Additional murals and artwork are created for each restaurant by Steve and Gary Fitzgerald and Colleen Mitchell-Veyna.
- It offers family meals such as breakfast, burgers, salads, and shakes.
- Baked goods prepared on site.
- Some locations offer alcohol.
- The menu mimics an old newspaper titled The Black Bear Gazette, with articles on the front page. The children's menu is similarly styled with the title The Beary Tale Times and features children's activities.
The company's leadership announced plans to be a "coast to coast" brand in January 2024.
Black Bear DinerBlack Bear DinerHome-Style Comfort Food
Black Bear Diner is a fast-growing, community-oriented, family dining concept that offers great food in a fun, bear-themed atmosphere. Born from a desire to bring home-style comfort food classics and personal service back to the dining experience, the brand is strategically growing its national footprint.In 2017, Nation's Restaurant News highlighted Black Bear Diner as a “disruptor” in the family dining market, noting market share gains against numerous legacy brands, while Franchise Times ranked it as #242 on its Next 300 Franchises to Watch in 2017 list.
- Founded: 1995 in Mount Shasta, California
- Total Locations: 156 Diners
- Number of States: 13 States
- Best Selling Menu Item: Chicken Fried Steak
Our Bear-ific Culture
The spirit and integrity of Black Bear Diner starts with our staff. That's why we only hire the beary best. Our employees are:
- Self-motivated, with a competitive spirit that inspires others.
- Customer-focused and consistently driven to provide quality service.
- Energetic multitaskers, who thrive in a fast-paced environment.
- Professional in personal appearance and attitude.
- Friendly team players, ready to lend a hand whenever and wherever it's needed.
- Skilled, with previous experience in the hospitality industry.
- Perfectly happy with all the bear puns they're subjected to.
Bears
Every diner features custom artwork from the inside out. Our co-founder Bob Manley, himself a sculptor and art enthusiast, wanted to share the sweeping Mt. Shasta landscapes we call home - while making diners feel at home, too.The unique and clever bear carvings reflect the local flavor of each diner. You'll find bears as skiers, fighter pilots, grape-stompers and more. Ray Schulz, our chainsaw-wielding mastermind, has carved around 4,000 of these bears. If you're looking for a carved bear of your own, contact him at 509.276.9504.
Sweeping, colorful, bear-mottled murals, created by the dynamic duo of Steve and Gary Fitzgerald of Mt. Shasta, are also a staple at every diner. In addition to the Fitzgerald's art, we feature mural art by Colleen Mitchell-Veyna, whose work often inspires a mix of awe and awwwww.
Black Bear DinerFeed Your Inner Bear
The goal of every Black Bear Diner is to deliver scrumptious food in a friendly environment. We promise to make your visit a pleasant one, and we'll try to keep the puns to a bear minimum (we said “try”).
Black Bear Diner:
Breakfast at the Base of ShastaCalifornia Through My LensHow to Get There
Located one minute off the 5 Freeway in the city of Mt Shasta, this diner is hard to miss. Off the exit for Lake Street, you simply turn right, if heading north, and the diner is a couple blocks up on the right-hand side.History
In 1861 a gold prospector by the name of Sisson fell in love with Strawberry Valley – a quaint mountain meadow at the foot of Mt. Shasta in Northern California. He opened an inn near the town that overlooked the wild berry patches nearby, frequented by both black bears and people alike. Tired travelers soon became aware of Sisson's fabulous hospitality, and the inn became a well-known stopover. Large portions of quality food in an interesting and friendly atmosphere became the standard that people expected on their visits.In 1995, Bob and Laurie Manley opened the first Black Bear Diner on the site of the old strawberry patches near Mt. Shasta. They were determined to rekindle the level of hospitality that was lavished upon early guests to Strawberry Valley. The menu, service, and decor were designed to remind the guest of a time when life was a little more simple, and service and quality were the cornerstones of business. The owners feel great satisfaction that after one hundred years, the black bears again look over Strawberry Valley.
The first restaurant was opened in Mount Shasta, California in 1995.
