Black Bear Diner announced it has entered two new Texas markets – San Antonio and Amarillo. Significantly, the San Antonio opening marks Black Bear Diner’s 150th diner, while the new Amarillo location is the 5th location to open at TravelCenters of America (TA). These openings are on the heels of the brand’s recent entrance into Dallas in October, as well as McAllen and Pasadena earlier this year as the company continues to execute its expansion plans with a large focus on building its presence in the Lone Star State.
“Texas remains a priority market for our expansion plans, and we are pleased by the continued positive responses we’ve received from our guests in these communities,” says Anita Adams, CEO of Black Bear Diner. “Our San Antonio opening marks a significant milestone for the company for two reasons: this is the 150th diner in our diner family and it’s our first diner in this market. As for Amarillo, we are thrilled to bring our home-style, large-portioned comfort food to the city, as well as the professional drivers and motorists that frequent TravelCenters of America.”
The San Antonio diner is now open at 2707 SE Military Drive and marks the second major Texas market Black Bear Diner has entered in two months, following the company’s first opening in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in Mesquite. The diner is a company-owned conversion build and boasts 5,713 square feet. It will seat up to 173 guests between its dining room and outdoor patio space. A second, franchise-owned San Antonio location is set to open in early 2023.
Black Bear Diner’s newest diner in Amarillo is located at 7000 E. Interstate 40, at a TA travel center. The new franchise-owned diner is a conversion build at an existing TA center and is located off exit 74 on Interstate 40. It will seat up to 113 guests within the 5,398 square foot space, and also features the brand’s new diner model, which includes a third-party pickup window located inside the vestibule of the restaurant. Both diners will be open daily from 6am-10pm.
Rounding out 2022, Black Bear Diner’s remaining planned openings include one corporate-owned diner in Harker Heights, TX, as well as a franchised location in El Paso, TX, at another TA location, bringing the company’s total diner openings for the year to 10. All new diners will be a combination of conversions and ground up builds and, where possible, will showcase the company’s new design enhancements that focus on building modifications to expedite off-premise business while preserving the in-diner guest experience.
Looking ahead to 2023, the company expects to open approximately 15 new diners system-wide, with a continued focus on expanding in the Lone Star State.
