The Great Lost Bear Explained

The Great Lost Bear
Slogan:Support Your Right to Arm Bears
Current-Owner:Mike Dickson (2023–)
Mary Dickson (2023–)
Andrew Pillsbury (2023–)
Previous-Owner:Chip MacConnell (1979–2011)
Dave Evans (1979–2023)
Weslie Evans (1979–2023)
Street-Address:540 Forest Avenue
City:Portland, Maine
Postcode:04101
Country:United States
Mapframe:yes

The Great Lost Bear is a bar and restaurant at 540 Forest Avenue in Portland, Maine, United States. Established in 1979 by Dave and Weslie Evans and Chip MacConnell,[1] it is noted for its selection of draft craft beers.[2] [3] [4]

History

Its location was formerly occupied by a rock club named Bottoms Up and, in the rear of the buildings, Nappi's Bakery.[5] [6] [7] The new venture, originally named The Grizzly Bear,[8] opened on June 18, 1979, and it received no customers.

In 1981, the name of the business was changed to The Great Lost Bear after a cease-and-desist letter was received from Grizzly Bear Pizza in Oregon. The "Grizzly" sign now hangs in the restaurant's dining room.[9]

The Evanses purchased MacConnell's share of the business in 2011, becoming sole owners. The same year, the bar appeared in an episode of Drinking Made Easy.[10]

Notable past patrons include Jerry Seinfeld. Mystery novelist John Connolly writes a series of novels about detective Charlie Parker and starting with the 2009 novel titled The Lovers the character Parker takes a job as a bartender at The Great Lost Bear.[11]

In May 2023, Mike and Mary "Bird" Dickson, along with Andrew Pillsbury, purchased the business from the Evans family. Each of the trio had worked at the establishment for over thirty years at that point.[12]

In September 2023, a celebration of life of D.L. Geary Brewing Company's founder David L. Geary took place during happy hour at the bar.[13]

Menu

Today, the bar has around seventy beer taps.[14] In 2018 it was voted Best Beer Bar in Maine by CraftBeer.com.[15]

The food menu has burgers, wings, nachos and a vegetarian section called Carnivores Beware.[16] It participated in Maine Restaurant Week in 2010 and offered a vegetarian meal of spanakopita.[17]

A menu from The Great Lost Bear in 1982 is included in a collection of menus held at the Portland Public Library. In that year, according to this menu, a hamburger cost $3.65 and a vegetarian Reuben sandwich cost $3.35.[18]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dave Evans has owned the Great Lost Bear for 35 years . 2022-09-15 . The Maine Mag . en-US.
  2. Web site: Great Lost Bear . 2022-09-15 . Food Network . en.
  3. News: Mooney . Jake . 2007-09-28 . Down East in Maine, by the Pint or the Vat . en-US . The New York Times . 2022-09-15 . 0362-4331.
  4. Web site: D'Ambrosio . Daniel . This Maine Beer Company Grew To $15 Million By Doing The Right Thing . 2022-09-15 . Forbes . en.
  5. Web site: 2016-01-06 . Great Lost Bear . 2022-09-15 . The Maine Mag . en-US.
  6. Web site: Edmonds . Evan . 'Neighboring is a verb': Less of a drive-by, more of a community in Portland's Woodfords Corner The Portland Phoenix . 2022-09-15 . en-US.
  7. Web site: PFM . 2023-05-23 . The Great Lost Bear . 2023-05-25 . Portland Food Map . en-US.
  8. Web site: Writer . Meredith GoadStaff . 2019-06-16 . The Great Lost Bear roars into its 5th decade . 2022-09-15 . Press Herald.
  9. 1988-12-11 . The Great Lost Bear, 1988 . Businesses & Buildings - Portland Press Herald Still Film Negatives.
  10. Web site: Kamila . Avery Yale . 2012-01-04 . Food & Dining Dispatches, Jan. 4, 2012 . 2022-10-11 . Press Herald.
  11. Web site: Voornas . Lori. Iconic Portland Restaurant Still as Cool and Delicious as Ever . 2023-04-15 . Q97.9 . en.
  12. Web site: Writer . Tim CebulaStaff . 2023-05-24 . The Wrap: The Great Lost Bear changes hands, Rose Foods reinstates indoor seating . 2023-05-25 . Press Herald.
  13. Web site: 2023 . OBITUARY David L. Geary . Dignity Memorial.
  14. Web site: Bouthillette . Emma . 2012-09-27 . Bar Guide: Beer drinkers will find Great Lost Bear to their liking . 2022-09-15 . Press Herald.
  15. Web site: 34 things to see and do while driving up the New England coast . 2022-09-15 . www.boston.com . en-US.
  16. Web site: Great Lost Bear . 2023-04-15 . Old Port Magazine . en-US.
  17. Web site: Kamila . Avery Yale . 2010-02-24 . Vegetarian options aplenty at restaurant week venues . 2023-04-15 . Press Herald.
  18. Web site: Sedenka . Chris . 2023-08-12 . 9 Old School Menus Reveal Dining Out in Portland, Maine, in the 1980s Was Cheap . 2023-12-22 . 102.9 WBLM . en.