TravelCenters of America continues foodservice expansion with fifth Black Bear Diner location

Dive Brief:

TravelCenters of America (TA) has opened a new full-service Black Bear Diner at its travel center in Amarillo, Texas, according to a Friday announcement.
The Amarillo location marks the fifth Black Bear Diner to open adjacent to a TA travel center. The other four are in Kingman, Arizona; Barstow and Wheeler Ridge, California; and Beaumont, Texas.
TA’s fifth Black Bear Diner continues the retailer’s foodservice push, as it plans to open more IHOP locations as well as introduce a new proprietary restaurant brand in the near future, CEO Jonathan Pertchik said during the company’s earnings call Nov. 2.

Dive Insight:

TA saw its restaurant revenue grow 10% in Q3 2022 compared to Q3 2021, and the company expects to invest in the “expansion of restaurants and food offerings” for 2022, Pertchik said in TA’s earnings statement.

The new Black Bear Diner in Amarillo is located at the TA travel center off exit 74 on Interstate 40. It will seat up to 113 guests within the 5,398 square-foot space, and also features the brand’s new diner model, including a third-party pickup window located inside the vestibule of the restaurant.

TA first partnered with Black Bear Diner in 2014 with the opening of the restaurant at the TA travel center in Wheeler Ridge.

Besides Black Bear Diner, TA’s full-service restaurant network includes R Place Restaurant, Fuddruckers, Johnson’s Corner, IHOP, Bob Evans and Boston Market. TA also has partnerships with nearly 20 fast-food restaurants, including Arby’s, Burger King, Popeyes, Subway, Starbucks and Taco Bell.

In addition to the Amarillo restaurant, Black Bear Diner has also opened a new standalone location in San Antonio, Texas — its 150th location to date. The restaurant brand is “building its presence” in Texas, having already opened locations in Dallas, McAllen and Pasadena this year, the company said in the announcement. In 2023, the company expects to open approximately 15 new diners, with a continued focus on expanding in Texas.

“Texas remains a priority market for our expansion plans, and we are pleased by the continued positive responses we’ve received from our guests in these communities,” CEO Anita Adams said.

Black Bear Diner currently operates in 14 U.S. states. Its menu includes comfort-food meals across all dayparts, including all-day breakfast items such as omelets, scrambles and slider sandwiches.