Big Bear operates more than 70 stores in Ohio and West Virginia under the From History Big Bear and Big Bear Plus banners. 1934 Opportunities until The History of Big Bear the Big Bear Stores was founded in What's New November 1933, in the depths of Bakery depression, by Wayne E. Brown, a present day, the company has Deli dynamic individual with his own vision continued to be a leader and Floral of the future of food distribution and innovator in the supermarket Meat retailing. industry. Big Bear was the first Produce The first Big Bear Store opened on supermarket in the country to use Seafood February 15, 1934, in a large building cashier-operated motorized Pharmacy across from Ohio State University, on conveyor belts and the first to use Store Brands Lane Avenue. In what was once a an IBM mainframe computer. Big Party Planner dance hall, a roller skating rink, and Bear has also been a pioneer in Fine Wine finally a tan bark ring for horse shows, establishing supermarket service Store Finder the first Big Bear store opened - the departments, developing a strong beginning of self service reputation for its high quality supermarketing in the Midwest. produce, meat, deli and bakery Events departments. Its Big Bear Plus Online Recipes stores were among the first superstores combining a supermarket with a general Feedback merchandise store. This new kind of "grocery store" In 1989, The Penn Traffic Coupons received quick acclaim from shoppers, Company purchased Big Bear Specials who responded by purchasing a Stores. Since 1993, Big Bear Stores volume of merchandise considered has been a division of the Penn phenomenal in those days. Within a Traffic Company. year, a second store opened in The most important factor in the Columbus. By the end of the second success of Big Bear over the years year, two more stores had been is the quality of the employees who opened, followed by stores in make up the company. The policy of Lancaster, Marion, Newark and hiring strong associates, training Toledo. "The Bear" had begun to grow! them to serve customers in a friendly and courteous manner, and promoting from "within" the organization created the spark that make Big Bear the success that it is today. Copyright 2000, The Penn Traffic Company [email protected] http://web.archive.org/web/20010516233953/www.bigbearstores.com/.