Black Bear Diner opened its first restaurant in Tulsa on September 10 at 9026 E.71st St. (south of Woodland Hills Mall).

A California-based franchise, the Tulsa restaurant hired a staff of people. The 6,853-square-foot dining area can seat almost 200 customers. Each Black Bear Diner restaurant displays multiple handmade bear carvings unique to each location. The featured bears at the Tulsa location include a signature 10-foot bear to welcome guests into the restaurant, plus a family of picnicking bears.

“We are very excited to not only open our first diner in Tulsa, but also our third in the Sooner State in just nine months,” said Black Bear Diner Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer Bruce Dean. “We couldn’t be more thrilled to be continuing our eastward expansion, and we look forward to bringing home-style comfort classics – and our trademarks bears – to the community of Tulsa.”

Founded in 1995 in Mount Shasta, California, Black Bear Diner serves “The Grizz!” breakfast combo – which includes two sweet cream pancakes, three eggs, two slices of thick-cut bacon, two sausage links and a ham steak, served with a choice of potato.

The new diner will be open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information on Black Bear Diner and its menu offering visit www.blackbeardiner.com.