Opened for business on April 8th 2002, Gilroy was the first venture of the Black Bear Diner West Inc. group.  Being a remodeled Lyon’s Restaurant building, this new development was warmly welcomed by the Gilroy Community and immediately became one of the highest volume units in the Black Bear Diner Family of stores.  Located off the Leavesley exit of Hwy 101, it sits adjacent to the Forest Park Inn, and is across the highway from the famous Outlets of Gilroy.

The staff and management of Gilroy Black Bear Diner pride themselves in strong community involvement and personal ties to many local events.  Involvement in such events as Leadership Gilroy, Relay for Life, the Gilroy Garlic Festival, Blue and White Auction, local school fundraising and athletic activities, City sponsored organizations, and countless individual group raffles and sponsorships, Black Bear Diner is well known in the local and surrounding community.   Gilroy’s management and staff truly believe in its efforts and realize that it is both rewarding and alot of fun to be such a big part of a great town.

Re-modeled and re-opened under the Black Bear Diner West Inc. flag on April 28th 2003, this building conversion was originally a Golden West Pancake Restaurant, built in 1973.  Located off of the Laurel Drive exit of Hwy 101, it sits adjacent to the Laurel Inn Motel, a well-known Salinas landmark.

Salinas Black Bear Diner is probably best known as the “local's hangout”, and proudly displays local athletic jerseys and photos on its walls.  With the true feel of that old fashion coffee shop / diner atmosphere, it’s just a fun place to sit down for a good old fashion meal!

As with all of the BBD West stores, Salinas is also involved in many local events and fundraising efforts.  The Management and Staff become extremely active in community efforts such as St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital Telethon, Relay for Life, Salinas Rodeo, Monterey Food Bank, City sponsored organizations, and many other local church, school and individual groups.

During the winter of 2004, the beautiful Cypress Center of Monterey was being completed on a piece of property that was long ago a hog farm, then a bowling alley, and then just barren land with weeds.  So when developer Tony Sammut had the idea to take this land, which had no City water allocation, develop a commercial well/water system, and create a beautiful center at the entrance to Monterey, it seemed like an impossible project.  But when he approached son George and his partners to make Black Bear Diner a corner anchor of the site and the finishing touch of the center, a dream for the whole BBD family became a possibility!  The company’s very first ground up unit.

Once the final decision was made, designs were discussed, Paul Miller of The Vernal Group Architects was hired, Larry Bane of Associated Builders was brought on board, and the ship set sail!  It was January of 2005 when design work was first submitted to the Monterey Architectural Review Committee, and then on May 15th, a groundbreaking ceremony took place!  With grades cut and the pad prepared, actual construction began on June 27th, and the first ground up Black Bear Diner was under way!

Five long months and a few days later, the finished product was complete and a dream became a reality.  Black Bear Diner Monterey would open its doors to the public on Dec 5th, 2005!  From the warmth of the fireplace, to the charm of the many bears that grace this new facility, Black Bear Diner Monterey truly shows off all of what the company has developed throughout the years, just minutes from the ocean's shore.  What better place to have this dream come true!