Own a franchise with a delicious history

A Goal to Serve the Community Grows Into the Diners of Today

Born from a desire to bring classic, home-style comfort food and unparalleled service back to American diners, today’s Black Bear Diner delivers on that original goal, and then some.

We are a family diner
unlike anything in the market.

Representing the best of the American dream, Bruce Dean and Bob Manley grew their idea of a welcoming place for friends to gather into a prospering, family-focused restaurant that has its sights set on dominating the category. Take a look at where we began and where we’re going.

1995

1st Diner opens in Mt. Shasta, CA

2002

Franchising is offered for 1st time

2006

30th Diner opens, sales exceed $50M

2017

Opened 100th location, named a “disruptor” in family dining by NRN

2020

25th Anniversary,
143 Locations in 14 States

2023

156 Diners in

14 States

2025

169 Diners in 14 states – 30th Anniversary

Two Friends, A Dream
And Bears

Born in the small mountain town of Mount Shasta, CA, founders Bruce Dean and Bob Manley created their first diner with a black bear theme. They wanted it to be a place where family and friends could be served home-cooked meals with a focus on providing guests with exceptional service. Their vision also included a community-centered atmosphere, where small-town values like honesty, integrity and hard work were honored. 30 years later, Black Bear Diner is thriving and still serving the same genuine experience.

Bears That Care on a Mission
To Give Back

Our Franchise Partners are highly involved in supporting the communities in which they do business. Our giving mission is to support philanthropic efforts — we do this as a company on a national level and within the local community through sponsorship and fundraising events.

Started in 2018, Bears Brew Back supports the Nicaraguan families that grow the single-origin coffee we serve in our restaurants. The program provides support for infrastructure, medical and educational-focused activities. Beginning as an internal program, it quickly gained momentum. Today, our guests can support this important endeavor by purchasing bags of the 100% Nicaraguan coffee at our Diners, with all profits going to fund Bears Brew Back initiatives.

Our projects provide water filtration and storage delivering potable water to the communities and families that grow our coffee. Additionally, we provide supplies that allow area children to attend school.

Save Room For A Wish® is our annual fundraiser to help grant the wishes of children with critical illness. Held each December, funds are raised through limited-time-only dessert offerings and the sale of $1 and $5 Wish Stars. We have currently raised over $2.2 million dollars for Make-A-Wish®.

3Bears is a fundraiser in partnership with Gold Country Wildlife Rescue focusing on providing rehabilitative care to three bears rescued during the 2021 Dixie Fire. Since we announced our support of these three cubs, the Black Bear Community has raised $17,300 which will go toward enclosures and facility improvements. If you’d like to learn more about this project visit goldcountrywildliferescue.org

We love to give back to the communities that support our local Black Bear Diners. Our Dine & Donate is a community/grassroots fundraising program that allows us to partner up with local organizations, schools or churches looking for an idea to raise funds for their cause or purpose.

Meet Some of the Bears
That Head Up Our Den