Black Bear Diner reported a significant expansion by announcing its first restaurant in Texas officially opened in Katy on Monday, March 19.
The new 5,400-square-foot, 150-seat diner is located at 24600 Katy Freeway, Suite 900, and will be open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. The restaurant is corporately owned by Black Bear Diner and will create approximately 80 new jobs for local residents.
“We are thrilled to not only open our first diner in Katy, but introduce the entire Lone Star State to Black Bear Diner, as well,” says Black Bear Diner co-founder and chief executive officer Bruce Dean. “This new restaurant is an important step in our eastward expansion, and we are eager to bring our home-styled comfort classics—and our trademarks bears—to local residents and visitors. More importantly, we look forward to serving as a good partner to Katy and other local communities across Texas as we expand.
The Katy opening follows news of a franchise agreement with an existing franchise partner to bring Black Bear Diner to the San Antonio and Austin markets in the coming years. The company intends to open another Houston-area corporate unit this year.
Frequently recognized as one of the country’s fastest-growing franchises and a “disruptor” in the family-dining segment, Black Bear Diner has been acknowledged for its growth and performance, especially compared to numerous competitive brands. With Texas, Black Bear Diner now operates in 10 states, and the company’s strategic plans call for further expansion east of the Rocky Mountains. Black Bear Diner opened 21 units last year.
Black Bear Diner will host a ribbon-cutting event the morning of March 19 at 11:00 a.m., during which they will unveil all-new signature, hand-carved bear sculptures, designed specifically to reflect the local Katy community. The restaurant will also present a $10,000 check to Katy High School to help with beautification efforts in the wake of Hurricane Harvey.
