The Great Lost Bear
| The Great Lost Bear | |
|---|---|
Bar (2023) | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | June 18, 1979 |
| Owner(s) | Mike Dickson (2023–) Mary Dickson (2023–) Andrew Pillsbury (2023–) |
| Previous owner(s) | Chip MacConnell (1979–2011) Dave Evans (1979–2023) Weslie Evans (1979–2023) |
| Street address | 540 Forest Avenue |
| City | Portland, Maine |
| Postal/ZIP Code | 04101 |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 43°40′05″N 70°16′49″W / 43.6680271°N 70.28024°W |
| Website | greatlostbear |
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 that day.[5]
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.[8][9]
The Evanses purchased MacConnell's share of the business in 2011, becoming sole owners.[8] The same year, the bar appeared in an episode of Drinking Made Easy.[10]
Notable past patrons include Jerry Seinfeld.[8] 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.[8][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]
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The sign of the business under its original name (2022)
References
- ^ "Dave Evans has owned the Great Lost Bear for 35 years". The Maine Mag. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
- ^ "Great Lost Bear". Food Network. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
- ^ Mooney, Jake (September 28, 2007). "Down East in Maine, by the Pint or the Vat". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
- ^ D'Ambrosio, Daniel. "This Maine Beer Company Grew To $15 Million By Doing The Right Thing". Forbes. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
- ^ a b "Great Lost Bear". The Maine Mag. January 6, 2016. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
- ^ Edmonds, Evan. "'Neighboring is a verb': Less of a drive-by, more of a community in Portland's Woodfords Corner | The Portland Phoenix". Retrieved September 15, 2022.
- ^ PFM (May 23, 2023). "The Great Lost Bear". Portland Food Map. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e Writer, Meredith GoadStaff (June 16, 2019). "The Great Lost Bear roars into its 5th decade". Press Herald. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
- ^ "The Great Lost Bear, 1988". Businesses & Buildings - Portland Press Herald Still Film Negatives. December 11, 1988.
- ^ Kamila, Avery Yale (January 4, 2012). "Food & Dining Dispatches, Jan. 4, 2012". Press Herald. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
- ^ Voornas, Lori. "Iconic Portland Restaurant Still as Cool and Delicious as Ever". Q97.9. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
- ^ Writer, Tim CebulaStaff (May 24, 2023). "The Wrap: The Great Lost Bear changes hands, Rose Foods reinstates indoor seating". Press Herald. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
- ^ "OBITUARY David L. Geary". Dignity Memorial. 2023.
- ^ Bouthillette, Emma (September 27, 2012). "Bar Guide: Beer drinkers will find Great Lost Bear to their liking". Press Herald. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
- ^ "34 things to see and do while driving up the New England coast". www.boston.com. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
- ^ "Great Lost Bear". Old Port Magazine. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
- ^ Kamila, Avery Yale (February 24, 2010). "Vegetarian options aplenty at restaurant week venues". Press Herald. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
- ^ Sedenka, Chris (August 12, 2023). "9 Old School Menus Reveal Dining Out in Portland, Maine, in the 1980s Was Cheap". 102.9 WBLM. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
