The Great Lost Bear
Bar (2023)
Restaurant information
EstablishedJune 18, 1979 (1979-06-18)
Owner(s)Mike Dickson (2023–)
Mary "Bird" Dickson (2023–)
Andrew Pillsbury (2023–)
Previous owner(s)Chip MacConnell (1979–2011)
Dave Evans (1979–2023)
Weslie Evans (1979–2023)
Street address540 Forest Avenue
CityPortland, Maine
Postal/ZIP Code04101
CountryUnited States
Coordinates43°40′05″N 70°16′49″W / 43.6680271°N 70.28024°W / 43.6680271; -70.28024
Websitegreatlostbear.com

The Great Lost Bear is a bar and restaurant 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.[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]

Today, the bar has around seventy beer taps.[8][13] In 2018 it was voted Best Beer Bar in Maine by CraftBeer.com.[14]

The food menu has burgers, wings, nachos and a vegetarian section called Carnivores Beware.[15] It participated in Maine Restaurant Week in 2010 and offered a vegetarian meal of spanakopita.[16]

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.[17]

References

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