[go: nahoru, domu]
Jump to content

Big Bear Stores

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Stude62 (talk | contribs) at 19:16, 13 January 2009 (→‎Slogans). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Big Bear
Company typeSupermarket
IndustryRetail
Founded1933
HeadquartersColumbus, Ohio
ProductsBakery, dairy, deli, frozen foods, general grocery, meat, pharmacy, produce, seafood, snacks, liquor
WebsiteNone

Big Bear Stores was a regional supermarket chain operating in Ohio and West Virginia. The company was founded in Columbus, Ohio, and was headquartered there until its acquisition by Syracuse, New York-based Penn Traffic in 1989. For nearly 75 years, the chain was a Central Ohio institution.

History

Big Bear Stores was founded in November 1933, in the depths of depression, by Wayne E. Brown, a dynamic individual with his own vision of the future of food distribution and retailing. The first Big Bear Store opened on February 15, 1934 on West Lane Avenue in Columbus, Ohio in what was once a dance hall, a roller skating rink, and finally a tan bark ring for horse shows, the first Big Bear store opened - the beginning of self service supermarketing in the Midwest. This first store was adjacent to the campus of the Ohio State University (now the site of the Riverwatch Tower apartments); Within a year, a second store opened in Columbus. By the end of the second year, two more stores had been opened, followed by stores in Lancaster, Marion, Newark and Toledo.

It was the first self-serve supermarket in the Midwest, and was the first supermarket in the country to use cashier-operated motorized conveyor belts, and claimed several innovative services, including its own trolley line. Big Bear introduced shopping carts to their stores in 1937. Big Bear operated a farm north of Columbus (later the site of store #272), as well as the Big Bear Bakery, located near the OSU campus. In 1948, Brown, along with other supermarket operators, founded Topco Associates, and Big Bear distributed their products (i.e. Food Club, Valu Time) as their "house brand", as well as their own private brand "Betty Brown", named after the founder's wife. Like many other stores, Big Bear had a trading stamp program. For many years their orange and blue "Buckeye" stamps were a familiar sight for shoppers.

In the 1950s, Big Bear became the first supermarket in the nation to use new IBM 305 RAMAC mainframe computer. In 1954, a new prototype store was opened in north Columbus' Graceland Shopping Center. With an interior store layout that became an industry standard, the store featured perishable items in the center of the stores and lower displays to highlight products. In the same year, Big Bear Stores Co. purchased Harts Stores, a department store that was operating at the time in the basements of two Big Bears. Harts experienced rapid growth, as Big Bear often opened grocery stores along with a Harts Department Store in an adjacent space.

Over time, Big Bear became a major supermarket chain in Ohio and West Virginia. In July 1988 the company started its hyperstore Big Bear Plus concept in Wintersville, Ohio (140,000 sq ft (13,000 m2)) and Bridgeport, Ohio (100,000 sq ft (10,000 m2)) the stores featured 40 percent food and 60 percent general merchandise. The hyperstore concept was a combination of its Harts Stores (29 stores as of 1991) and the Big Bear Grocery format.

Towards the end of 1990 the company decided to favor the Big Bear Plus store format over the Harts general merchandise format and started to slowly shutter or convert all remaining Harts locations. In 1991, ten side-by-side Big Bear and Harts locations were converted to the Big Bear Plus format. Before the demise of the company there were 21 Big Bear Plus stores.

Savings card

Big Bear Stores savings card was known as the "Big Bear Wild Card". After Penn-Traffic announced that Big Bear was ceasing operations, Kroger announced that it would now honor the Big Bear Wild Cards at their stores.

Slogans

  • You'll Be Surprised By A Big Bear (late 70's-1981)
  • Get The Bear Minimum Price! (1981-1986)
  • That's My Bear (1986-1987)
  • Give 'Em A Big Bear Hug! (1987-2004)
  • All we did was listen (1997)

Big Bear Credit Union

The credit union was founded in June, 1957 as Big Bear Employees Credit Union by a group of employees that worked for the former Big Bear Stores Company. The credit union's office was located within the headquarters of the Big Bear Stores Company, located at 770 W. Goodale Blvd. in Columbus, Ohio. In 1983, the credit union moved its office to a Big Bear Stores satellite office, located at 1184 Dublin Road in Columbus. The new location allowed the credit union to double its space, and provided enough room for six employees. In 1990, the credit union moved into its first office with its own public entrance, located in converted warehouse space at 851 W. 3rd Avenue in Columbus. In March 2003, noting that only fifteen percent of the credit union's members were employed by Big Bear Stores Company, the credit union's membership voted to change the name of the credit union to Members First Credit Union, providing the credit union with a brand new identity. By the end of 2003, Big Bear Stores announced that their company would cease operations by the beginning of 2004. In March 2004, the credit union moved into a newly built facility, located at 1445 W. Goodale Blvd. in the heart of the Grandview / Marble Cliff area.

Downfall and Closure

In 1976, the company went private in a leveraged buyout, by six company executives. Big Bear again went public in 1983. The company's fortunes began to falter in the late-1980s with new competition from supermarket chains like Cub Foods and Meijer. The chain put itself on the auction block in late 1988 after 54 years as an independent company, including periods of both public and private ownership. Big Bear was bought out in April 1989 for $35 per share, or $352 million, for all outstanding common stock by large retailer Penn Traffic, which owns several regional supermarket chains. In 1993, Big Bear Stores became a division of the Penn Traffic Company, and through a series of changes in business and marketing strategies. One of the changes including the removale of long Big Bear President Steve Breech and his leadership team. Breeche's replacement, Phillip Hawkins, a former Vons Supermarket CEO was promoted as a turn around specialist. As long-time Columbus area shoppers complained about declining conditions in the Columbus area stores, Hawkins and company launched its infamous "All We Did Was Listen"[1] [2] campaign in 1997 featuring Hawkins speaking in front group of Big Bear employees in a reassuring tone of voice. Hawkins plan was to take Big Bear from its role as an up market chain into the value chain segment of the market. It didn't work. As the per store sales dropped and conditions in the stores declined, product suppliers pulled their items from store shelves as accounts went past due. Employees within Big Bear made a joke of Hawkins and his "All we did was listen" as hollow proof that management "listened" to employee and shopper concerns, but that was all they were prepared to do. By the end of Hawkins brief tenure, Big Bear was hemorrhaging red ink.

The chain's demise was finalized in 2004 when the last Big Bear stores closed their doors, following Penn Traffic's 2nd Chapter 11 bankruptcy in a decade. Some were acquired and reopened as Giant Eagle or Kroger stores; as of March 2005 many former Big Bear stores (especially West Virginia) remain empty, ghosts of a once ubiquitous supermarket chain.

Former locations

Note: Big Bear Plus stores are marked with Big Bear Plus; the others are regular Big Bear stores.

Big Bear Stores (pre 1988 auction)
Store No. Phone No. Street Address City Address Store Opened Store Closed Square Feet Renumbered or Moved Before Opening After Closing Now it is Other Notes
1 614-291-4643 386 W. Lane Ave Columbus, OH 43201 Feb 15 1934 Jul 25 1985 Demolished 198? Riverwatch Tower Apartments Included Leased depts. Rx Floral Bakery Restaurant Soda Fountain Appliances Shoe Repair Storeroom in Basement
2 2030 E. Main Street Columbus, OH 43205 Mar 14 1935 Destroyed Bef. 1981 Move to below Address 1940 Piano Factory Krogers Piano crates used as shelving, Had leased Rx
1815 E. Main Street Columbus, OH 43205 1940 Address Change to Below 1962 First building built asa grocery store for the company
614-262-2222 1805 E. Main Street Columbus, OH 43205 1953 Jan 10 1979 Kidney Center Of Columbus
3 22-26 Spruce Street Columbus, OH 43215 Mar 19 1936 Jan 14 1951 Move to Below Address 1951 Vacant Parking Lot Black and Silver colors
614-228-2263 40 Spruce Street Columbus, OH 43215 Jan 15 1951 Oct 27 1962 Move to Below Address 1963 Family Focus
614-224-3065 777 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH 43215 Oct 31 1962 Dec 9 1994 Rebuilt to 220 Houses until 1959 Razed Giant Eagle 6516
4 2594 W. Broad Street Columbus, OH 43204 Sept 24 1936 Moved to Below Address 1947 Gant Market 2594-8 S + H Green Stamps 1962-
2596 W. Broad Street Columbus, OH 43204 1947 Dec 3 1951 Moved to Below Address 1951
614-279-8633 2835 W. Broad Street Columbus, OH 43204 Dec 4 1951 Oct 12 1996 Rebuilt to 237 1st with Register Belts Junior Department Store #82 in Basement
5 1416 W. Sylvania Toledo, OH 43612 Jun 6 1938 Feb 2 1957 Demolished Mr. Suds Car Wash
6 895 Parsons Avenue Columbus, OH 43206 May 10 1939 Dec 18 1955 Moved to Below Address 1956 Clean Machine Laundry
614-443-6575 280 E. Whittier Street Columbus, OH 43206 Dec 19 1955 Jan 17 2004 24,000 Empty Field w/ Gas station on corner until 1953 Giant Eagle 6508
7 614-263-3612 2572 Cleveland Avenue Columbus, OH 43211 Oct 18 1940 May 29 1968 Demolished A Better Choice Child Development Center
8 937-325-8569 1215 Sunset Blvd. Springfield, OH 45505 Mar 20 1957 Dec 6 2003 Liberal Supermarkets of Dayton closed Mar 20 1957 Food For Less
9 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A NEVER EXISTED
10 230 Columbus Avenue Lancaster, OH 43130 Mar 5 1940 Mar 16 1974 Opened as Miller Stores Co.
11 740-345-0945 61 S. Third Street Newark, OH 43055 July 1 1940 January 2004 20,000 Lil\' Bear Opened as Miller Stores Co.
12 250 W. Central Street Toledo, OH 43610 Sep 3 1940 Jul 2 1961 Opened as Miller Stores Co.
13 245 N. Main Street Marion, OH 43302 Sep 9 1942 ?? Scheduled to open in 1940
614-389-2212 1300 Mt. Vernon Road Marion, OH 43302 Dec 16 1958 Aug 27 1993 Moved to 233
14 312 S. Limestone Street Springfield, OH 45505 Jan 22 1948 ??
513-399-0901 2300 N. Limestone Street Springfield, OH 45505 Aug 6 1957 Jul 5 1993 Remodeled to 224 Liberal Supermarkets of Dayton closed Mar 20 1957
15 513-324-3560 1014 W. Main Street Springfield, OH 45502 Jan 22 1948 Mar 31 1995 Moved to 236 Family Dollar
16 614-453-2904 160 N. Fourth Street Zanesville, OH 43701 Jun 2 1948 Apr 6 1991 Junior Department Store #83 in Basement
17 614-291-0130 1101 N. High Street Columbus, OH 43201 Oct 29 1948 Mar 6 1984 Family Dollar
18 3918 Monroe Avenue Toledo, OH 43606 Jan 18 1950 Nov 13 1965 Junior Department Store in Basement
19 614-488-9763 1451 W. Fifth Avenue Columbus, OH 43212 Aug 9 1950 2004 60,000 Empty w/ Gas Station 1936-1950 Giant Eagle 6509
614-481-0201 Jan 17 2004
20 614-235-4326 3790 E. Broad Street Whitehall, 43213 Jan 15 1952 Oct 30 1987 Moved to 76 Staples
21 614-268-8685 3515 Cleveland Avenue Columbus, OH 43224 Jun 9 1954 May 14 1996 Remodeled to 271
22 614-268-3577 169 Graceland Boulevard Columbus, OH 43214 Jul 20 1954 Dec 1 1995 Moved to 269 Demolished 2006? Empty Lot Wall w/Harts removed 1959 Remodeled in Aug 1960 to Raymond Loewy design w/ 22 colors
614-888-5577
23 614-947-7561 607 W. Emmitt Ave. Waverly, OH 45690 Feb 1 1955 May 29 1999 Family Dollar
24 1195 W. Park Avenue Mansfield, OH 44906 Mar 20 1956 Mar 3 1974
25 614-773-1139 617 Central Shopping Center Chillicothe, OH 45601 Apr 10 1956 Jun 28 1991 Remodeled to 216
26 1017 Mount Vernon Road Newark, OH 43055 Nov 13 1956 Nov 5 1977 Moved to 258
27 740-373-5567 128 Gross St. (Frontier Shopping Center) Marietta, OH 45750 May 21 1957 Jan 17 2004 55,000 Giant Eagle 6510
28 304-422-0761 130 Park Center Drive Parkersburg, WV 26101 Nov 5 1957 Nov 28 1996 Remodeled to 263
29 614-486-8771 1781 Kingsdale Center Columbus, OH 43221 Mar 26 1958 Moved to Below Address Chipotle 1st with Air-Curtain Door, Deli-Kitchen, Coronation Carillon Bellclock 1st in-store bakery in Sept 1961
1775 Kingsdale Center Columbus, OH 43221 1997 Moved to Below Address 1997? Complete Petmart
614-457-4751 1798 Kingsdale Center Columbus, OH 43221 1997 Jan 17 2004 56,006 Giant Eagle 6511
30 630 Harrisburg Pike Columbus, OH 43223 Nov 6 1958 Moved to Below Address 1964 Sunshine Cleaning Center Opened w/ Rx
614-221-4207 660 Harrisburg Pike Columbus, OH 43223 1964 January 2004 28,726 Outland Cafe Club
31 304-523-5331 1681 Fairfield Plaza Huntington, WV 25701 Apr 8 1959 Jan 6 2004 28,000 Liquor Parking Lot for Cabell Huntington Hospital
32 614-235-4389 4632 E. Main Street Whitehall, OH 43213 Sep 9 1959 Nov 1 1991 Remodeled to 262 Added Deli + Bakery 1970
614-866-7456 1965
33 270 Rome-Hilliard Road Hilliard, OH 43206 Jul 29 1959 Address Change to Below
614-876-5217 3606 Main Street Hilliard, OH 43206 Sep 15 1995 Big Lots
34 1251 N. Memorial Drive Lancaster, OH 43130 May 18 1960 May 31 1989 Moved to 207
35 740-522-1133 553 Hebron Road Newark, OH 43055 Oct 4 1960 Apr 7 1997 Remodeled to 270 Planned in 1956
36 614-491-0573 3723 S. High Street Columbus, OH 43207 Dec 7 1960 Sep 17 1993 Moved to 225
37 740-452-2733 151 Maysville Pike South Zanesville, OH 43701 Jun 18 1961 Nov 2002 Moved to 240 Planned in 1956
38 614-488-7379 1591 W. Lane Avenue Upper Arlington, OH 43212 Sep 29 1961 Jan 1 1971 Destroyed by Fire Eavey\'s Supermarket 1961 Petite Sophisticate
1583 W. Lane Avenue Upper Arlington, OH 43212 Feb 2 1972 Nov 16 1985 Rebuilt GNC
39 740-393-6055 855 Coshocton Road Mt. Vernon, OH 43050 Nov 20 1961 Jan 29 1993 Moved to 221
40 304-525-7459 115 Sixth Avenue Huntington, WV 25701 Mar 21 1962 Feb 4 2004 Liquor Huntington Food Fair
41 614-878-5371 4780 W. Broad Street Columbus, OH 43228 Oct 10 1962 Feb 14 2004 50,155 Empty in 1961 Lincoln Foods Giant Eagle 6519 Planned in 1955
42 614-237-3607 2811 Columbus-Lancaster Road Columbus, OH 43227 Mar 4 1964 Jun 3 1983 Vacant
43 Wheeling Area 1964 Bef 1994
44 650 Ashland Road Mansfield, OH 44905 Aug 12 1964 Apr 21 1984 Warehouse Sep 10 1980 til Close
45 740-775-3733 1075 N. Bridge Street Chillicothe, OH 45601 May 6 1965 Mar 6 1992 Remodeled to 222
46 614-457-3770 3700 Riverside Dr. Columbus, OH 43221 Jul 14 1965 Jul 6 1989 3746 Riverside Grocery 1964 Razed 1965 U.S. Post Office
47 614-888-0535 1575 Dublin-Granville Road Columbus, OH 43229 Oct 20 1965 Jan 28 2000 Moved to 239 Empty in 1962 Gas and Bank in 1965 Lifestyle Family Fitness
48 1180 N. Court Street Circleville, OH 43113 Dec 14 1966 Feb 26 1988 Moved to 203
49 614-451-6220 1920 Henderson Rd. Columbus, OH 43220 Nov 1 1967 Mar 16 1990 22,500? Moved to 211 Fresh Market
50 614-475-1600 459 Agler Road Gahanna, OH 43230 Jan 17 1968 January 2004 22,500 Houses 1963-7 My Bear grocery Vacant
51 740-286-4137 Jackson Square Center Jackson, OH 45640 Mar 12 1969 Mar 27 1999 44,440? Announced Sept 17 1968 (Wayne Brown\'s Hometown)
52 34 Westerville Square Westerville, OH 43081 Dec 3 1969 Dec 4 1987 32,030 Moved to 75 Hancock Fabrics
53 1121 Bower Avenue New Philadelphia, OH 44663 Aug 19 1970 Apr 15 1977
54 740-653-6030 1710 E. Main Street Lancaster, OH 43130 Mar 20 1974 Jun 29 1991 Remodeled to 255
55 937-390-3100 2980 Derr Road Springfield, OH 45503 Jan 18 1976 Jul 30 1993 Superpetz Vacant
56 614-239-0989 1220 S. James Road Columbus, OH 43227 Dec 14 1975 January 2004 1200 Eichhorn\'s IGA Foodliner 1961-63 Park Lane IGA 1965-7 Bargain Outlet
57 304-453-6123 4th Street W. Rt. 60 Ceredo, WV 25507 Nov 10 1976 Mar 30 1992 Remodeled to 257
58 740-366-3340 1660 N. 21st. Street Newark, OH 43055 Nov 6 1977 Mar 16 1992 Remodeled to 258
59 614-274-0455 3435 Sullivant Avenue Columbus, OH 43204 Oct 30 1977 January 2004 40,452 3425 A & P 1961-3
60 740-797-4526 70 N. Plains Road The Plains, OH 45780 Sep 17 1978 January 2004 Foodland
61 614-885-0236 4665 Morse Centre Columbus, OH 43229 Oct 21 1979 Jan 28 2000 Big Lots
62 614-882-5310 5700 Columbus Square Columbus, OH 43229 Oct 4 1980 Oct 3 1998 31,616
63 614-863-1580 4280 Eastland Square Drive Columbus, OH 43232 Jun 15 1980 January 2004 38,300
64 920 Columbus Avenue Lebanon, OH 45036 Nov 22 1980 Aug 30 1988 Remodeled to 252
65 614-457-3635 889 Bethel Road Columbus, OH 43214 May 16 1981 January 2004 42,000 Sunflower Market Vacant
66 304-525-7825 2825 Fifth Avenue Huntington, WV 25702 Nov 21 1981 Oct 11 1993 Remodeled to 259
67 304-428-7900 230 Gihon Village Shop Center Parkersburg, WV 26101 Nov 27 1982 Nov 10 1995 Moved to 267
68 614-889-0308 6674 Sawmill Road Worthington, OH 43085 Mar 2 1985 Apr 12 1996 Moved to 268 (vacant)/Pier One/Borders Stores
69 614-268-0976 2801 N. High Street Columbus, OH 43202 Mar 30 1985 Jan 17 2004 62,000 2815 Olentangy Village Bowling Center Giant Eagle 6512
70 55707 Industrial Drive Bridgeport, OH 43912 Oct 16 1963 Jun 14 1988 Remodeled to 250
71 216-339-1966 2301 E. High Street New Philadelphia, OH 44663 May 5 1965 Dec 16 1995
72 740-354-1211 4455 Old Scioto Trail Portsmouth, OH 45662 Oct 27 1965 Nov 11 1990 Moved to 254
73 304-344-1717 118 Hills Plaza Charleston, WV 25312 Aug 17 1985 Jan 4 2004 57,000 Liquor
74 740-592-4398 1008 E. State Street Athens, OH 45701 Jul 1 1988 Dec 6 2003 Athena Grand Theater
75 614-899-6244 2551 Shrock Road Westerville, OH 43081 Dec 5 1987 January 2004 53,704 The Raisin Rack grocery store Last Orange/Brown/Green/Yellow color scheme
76 614-231-2780 3680 E. Broad Street Columbus, OH 43213 Oct 31 1987 Jan 4 2004 53,001 Miracle Bar 1961-7
79 614-861-4628 6300 E. Livingston Avenue Reynoldsburg, OH 43068 Nov 8 1972 Apr 2 1991 Remodeled to 256 Planned in 1963

Other Stores In Progress to Wiki Table

Ohio

  • Urbana - No. 200 280 Patrick Ave Urbana, OH 43078 - (opened ?, closed 2004, 25,000 sq ft (2,300 m2))
  • Circleville - No. 203 120 Morris Road Circleville, OH 43113 - (opened 1987, closed 2004, reopened as Jubilee Foods 2004, 43,883 sq ft (4,077 m2))
  • Columbus - No. 206 100 Dillmont Drive Columbus, OH 43235 - (opened 1990, closed 2004, space split, now half Big Lots and half vacant, was 56,859 sq ft (5,282 m2))
  • Lancaster - No. 207 1430 River Valley Rd. Lancaster, OH 43130 - (opened 1989?, closed 1999, 56,596 sq ft (5,258 m2))
  • Pickerington - No. 208 1171 Hill Road North Pickerington, OH 43147 - (opened 1989, closed 2004, 55,990 sq ft (5,202 m2))
  • Gallipolis - No. 209 31 Upper River Rd. Gallipolis, OH 45631 - (opened 1989, closed ?, 43136? sq ft)
  • Gahanna - No. 210 920 Hamilton Road Gahanna, OH 43213 - (opened 1990, closed 2004, 55,000 sq ft (5,100 m2))
  • Columbus - No. 211 2700 Bethel Road Columbus, OH 43220 - (opened 1988, closed 2004, demolished in 2007 and replaced by a Wal-Mart )
  • Westerville - No. 212 1220 County Line Road Westerville, OH 43081 - (opened October 1993, closed 2004, 57,748 sq ft (5,365 m2))
  • Zanesville - No. 215 2800 North Maple Ave. Zanesville, OH 43701 - (opened ?, closed 2004)
  • Chillicothe - No. 216 660 Central Center Chillicothe, OH 45601 - (opened 1956/1991, closed 2004, reopened as Community Markets 2004, 44,000 sq ft (4,100 m2))
  • Columbus - No. 220 777 Neil Ave. Columbus, OH 43215 - (opened ?, closed 2004, reopened as Giant Eagle 2004, 37,003 sq ft (3,438 m2))
  • Mt. Vernon - No. 221 1550 Coshocton Rd. Mt. Vernon, OH 43050 - (opened 1993, closed 2004, 34400? sq ft)(original building was the new Kroger building, it was built before 1960 and left vacant when they moved in 1993 to the 1550 address)
  • Marysville - No. 223 15715 US Highway 36 Marysville, OH 43040 - (opened 1993, closed 2004, 36,052 sq ft (3,349 m2))
  • Springfield - No. 224 2300 N. Limestone St. Springfield, OH 45503 - (opened 1994, closed 2003, reopened as Kroger 2004)
  • Columbus - No. 225 3811 South High Street Columbus, OH 43207 - (opened ?, closed 2004, 44,960 sq ft (4,177 m2))
  • Washington Court House - No. 226 300 Washington Square Washington C.H., OH 43108 - (opened 1980?, closed 2004, 40,980 sq ft (3,807 m2))
  • St. Mary's - No. 227 1550 Celina Road St. Mary's, OH 45885 - (opened ? as Pantry Pride, bought by big bear 1992, closed 2004)
  • Celina - No. 228 725 West Logan Street Celina, OH 45822 - (opened ? as Pantry Pride, bought by big bear 1992, closed 2004)
  • Celina - No. 229 901 East Wayne Street Celina, OH 45822 - (opened 1979 as Pantry Pride, bought by big bear 1992, closed 2004, 41,316 sq ft (3,838 m2))
  • New Bremen - No. 230 444 South Washington Street New Bremen, OH 45869 - (opened ? as Pantry Pride, bought by big bear 1992, closed 2004, 40,000 sq ft (4,000 m2))
  • Wapakoneta - No. 231 805 Defiance Street Wapakoneta, OH 45895 - (opened ? as Pantry Pride, bought by big bear 1992, closed 2004 Reopened as Community Markets)
  • Coshocton - No. 232 793 South Second Street Coshocton, OH 43812 - (replaced Kroger in 1994, closed 2004)
  • Hilliard - No. 235 5419 Roberts Road Hillard, OH 43026 - (opened 1995, closed 2004, 54,780 sq ft (5,089 m2))
  • Springfield - No. 236 1707 N. Bechtle Ave Springfield, OH 45504 - (opened 4/1/1995, closed 2004, 55,000 sq ft (5,100 m2))now Best Buy and Petsmart
  • Columbus - No. 237 2865 W. Broad Street Columbus, OH 43204 - (opened 1996, closed 2004, 38,000 sq ft (3,500 m2))
  • Bellefontaine - No. 238 2250 South Main St. Bellefontaine, OH 43311 - (opened 1996, closed 12/5/1998. Split into two stores 2001, now a Staples and a Goody's - discount clothing store. 52,399 sq ft (4,868 m2))
  • Columbus - No. 239 1501 Dublin-Granville Road Columbus, OH 43229 - (opened Jan 29 2000, closed 2004, 55,096 sq ft (5,119 m2))
  • Bridgeport - No. 250 55707 Industrial Drive Bridgeport, OH 43912 - (opened ?, closed 2002, 100,000 sq ft (10,000 m2)) Big Bear Plus
  • Wintersville - No. 251 100 Main Street Wintersville, OH 43952 - (opened ?, closed 2004, 140,000 sq ft (13,000 m2)) Big Bear Plus
  • Lebanon - No. 252 920 Columbus Avenue Lebanon, OH 45036 - (opened 1980?, closed 2004) Big Bear Plus
  • Wapakoneta - No. 253 1340 Bellefontaine Street Wapakoneta, OH 43952 - (opened ?, closed 2004, 70,000 sq ft (7,000 m2)) Big Bear Plus
  • Portsmouth - No. 254 3920 US Route 23 Portsmouth, OH 45662 - (opened 1965, closed 2004, now JW Village Market IGA) Big Bear Plus
  • Lancaster - No. 255 1719 E. Main Street Lancaster, OH 43130 - (opened 1992, closed 2004, 98,000 sq ft (9,100 m2)) Big Bear Plus
  • Reynoldsburg - No. 256 6300 E. Livingston Ave. Reynoldsburg, OH 43068 - (opened 1976?, closed 2004, 101,067 sq ft (9,389 m2)) Big Bear Plus
  • Newark - No. 258 1660 N. 21st Street Newark OH, 43055 - (opened ?, closed 2003, 110,000 sq ft (10,000 m2)) Big Bear Plus
  • Hilliard - No. 260 3700 Fishinger Blvd. Hilliard, OH 43026 - (opened 1986?, closed 2004, reopening as Kroger Marketplace 2007, 116,676 sq ft (10,840 m2)) Big Bear Plus
  • Whitehall - No. 262 4632 E. Main Street Whitehall, OH 43213 - (opened 1959?, closed 2004, 100,946 sq ft (9,378 m2)) Big Bear Plus
  • Grove City - No. 265 2173 Stringtown Rd. Grove City, OH 43123 - (opened 1993, closed 2004, reopened as Giant Eagle 2006, 70,000 sq ft (7,000 m2)) Big Bear Plus
  • Dublin - No. 266 6700 Perimeter Loop Rd. Dublin, OH 43017 - (opened 1996, "closed" 2004 and became a Giant Eagle the next day, 79,854 sq ft (7,419 m2)) Big Bear Plus
  • Columbus - No. 268 3670 W. Dublin-Granville Rd. Columbus, OH 43235 - (opened 1996, closed 2004 reopened as Whole Foods 2006, 74,901 sq ft (6,959 m2)) Big Bear Plus
  • Columbus - No. 269 199 Graceland Blvd. Columbus, OH 43214 - (opened ?, closed 2004, reopened as Kroger Marketplace 2006, 110,915 sq ft (10,304 m2)) Big Bear Plus
  • Heath - No. 270 553 Hebron Road Heath, OH 43056 - (opened 1960, closed 2004, reopened as Giant Eagle 2004, 67,000 sq ft (6,200 m2)) Big Bear Plus
  • Columbus - No. 271 3515 Cleveland Avenue Columbus, OH 43224 - (opened ?, closed 2004, 65,560 sq ft (6,091 m2)) Big Bear Plus
  • Powell - No. 272 4000 West Powell Rd. Powell, OH 43065 - (opened 1997, closed 2004, reopening as Giant Eagle December 2006, 75,729 sq ft (7,035 m2)) Big Bear Plus
  • Columbus - No. 273 6867 East Broad Street Columbus, OH 43213 - (opened ?, closed 2004, reopened as Giant Eagle 2004) Big Bear Plus
  • Marion -No. ?? Opened 1950 on North Main Street. Building was an army surplus Quonset building. Store closed in 1960 with the opening of the Marion Plaza Store.
  • Marion -No. ?? Opened 1960 at Marion Plaza Shopping Center, Mt Vernon Avenue, Marion Ohio 43302. Closed in 1980s when replaced by newer building further east on Marion-Mt. Gilead Road.
  • Marion - No.?? Opened in mid 1980s. Big Bear took the store lease over from Clyde Evans Super Markets following a decision to close the Evans Grocery Store. Closed early 1990s. Kroger Corporation assumed lease and operates the store currently.
  • Upper Arlington - No. ?? Lane Avenue Shopping Center - (opened 196?, closed 1980) Located on east end of shopping center along the Wellesley Lane extension.
  • Sidney - No. ?? Sidney, OH 45365 - (opened 1988?, closed 1999?, 55,000 sq ft (5,100 m2))Now occupied by Big Lots,Jack's Pets and Hibbert Sports.
  • Springfield - No. ?? 1014 W Main St Springfield, OH 45504-2756 - (opened ?, closed ?) This was the first Big Bear in Springfield and currently is a Family Dollar.

West Virginia

  • Huntington - No. 31 1681 Fairfield Plaza Huntington, WV 25701 - (opened 1959, closed Jan. 6, 2004, 28,000 sq ft (2,600 m2)) Demolished in late 2004 to expand parking lot at nearby Cabell Huntington Hospital
  • Huntington - No. 40 115 Sixth Avenue, Huntington, WV 25701 - (opened 1965, closed 2004, re-opened Nov. 2004 as a Foodfair location)
  • Charleston - No. 73 118 Hills Plaza Charleston, WV 25312 - (opened Aug. 1985, closed 2004, Partially reopened & remodeled in 2006 as a BIG LOTS store. 57,000 sq ft (5,300 m2))
  • Teays Valley - No. 213 100 Liberty Square Hurricane, WV 25520 - (opened 1990, closed 2004, 56,724 sq ft (5,270 m2))
  • Huntington - No. 217 2054 Third Ave Huntington, WV 25701 - (opened 1985, closed 2004) Liquor Plus This was a successful beer and liquor outlet near Marshall University campus operated by Big Bear Stores. The building now houses a Fastenal.
  • Parkersburg - No. 218 615 Ann Street Parkersburg, WV 26101 - (opened ?, closed 2004) Liquor Plus
  • Ceredo - No. 257 4th Street W. Rt #60 Ceredo, West Virginia 25507- (opened 1974, closed 2004, 105,000 sq ft (9,800 m2)) Big Bear Plus Half of the building was converted into a Harbor Freight Tool Store. The other half remains vacant.
  • Huntington - No. 259 2825 Fifth Avenue Huntington, WV 25702 - (opened ?, closed 2004) Big Bear Plus currently being converted into a school for St. Mary's Hospital
  • Parkersburg - No. 263 180 Park Center Drive Parkersburg, WV 26101 - (opened 1996?, closed 2004, reopened 2006 as Ollie's Bargain Outlet, 110,000 sq ft (10,000 m2)) Big Bear Plus
  • Parkersburg - No. ?? 230 Gihon Village Shopping Plaza, Parkersburg, WV 26101 - (opened ?, closed 2001?)

See also
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Big_Bear_Stores&oldid=263865091"