CHICO – When I learned that the Black Bear Diner was opening on East Twentieth Street in the former Outback Steakhouse location, I was excited, as were others in town.
I went on Thursday and spoke to the very nice staff. I asked to speak to the manager, Noel Ruvalcaba, but I decided to call back on Friday morning as I had a deadline looming.
So on Friday I went back and sat down with Ruvalkaba. Black Bear Diner told me it opened on Tuesday, October 25th.
“So far so good,” he said when I asked how business was going so far.
The Ruvalcaba community has been waiting for the Black Bear Diner to open for a really long time. When Paradise’s Black Bear Diner closed, it was sad for many customers, and Ruvalcaba said customers traveled from Paradise to eat at the Chico location, and some of the staff came from the former Paradise location.
“I think people come for the customer service and the atmosphere,” Ruvalcaba said. “We maintain a high standard. People really want Black Bear Diner.
He said his signature breakfast dish is chicken-fried steak. I thought it was weird for a breakfast thing, but oh well, if people like it, that’s all that matters. A signature lunch dish is taco salad and for dinner, it’s pot roast or meatloaf.
Ruvalcaba has a total of 113 employees, most of whom are part-time. This number includes servers, bussers, dishwashers and cooks. Some of the employees are Chico State or Butte College students. The dining room seats 190 people.
“People are involved with the community here,” he said. “We’ve had a steady flow of people and it’s getting busier every day.”
The slow hour is between 2-4pm.
Black Bear Diner sells a variety of gift items, such as teddy bears, keychains, baby clothes and, in the future, pajamas and slippers. There are items for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.
“Teddy bears, shirts and key chains are our best sellers,” Ruvalcaba said.
Outback Steakhouse is torn down and everything in the Black Bear Diner is brand new, he said. The owners are from Yuba City and drive by regularly to check out the diner.
“Many of our employees grew up here and are connecting with their community,” he said.
At Ruvalkaba, I said, the shop is so clean and bright and inviting. I encourage people who live in Chico or the surrounding area to stop in and eat at the Black Bear Diner.
The diner mainly walks. Located at 1990 East Twentieth Street, in the Chico Marketplace. Open for dinner from 6am to 9pm on Wednesdays and 6am to 10pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. His phone number is 530-965-5857.
