TravelCenters Adds More Full-Service Dining

ARVIN, Calif. — TravelCenters of America LLC, operator of the TA and Petro Stopping Centers travel center brands, opened its first Black Bear Diner restaurant. The full-service, sit-down restaurant is located at the TA Wheeler Ridge in Arvin, at 5552 Wheeler Ridge Rd. off Interstate 5, Exit 219A/219B.

Full Service Restaurant Magazine named Black Bear Diner a top 10 dining chain in 2014. The concept offers home-cooked meals, including comfort classics such as chicken fried steak, corned beef hash and slow-cooked pot roast. Dessert favorites include apple crumb cobbler and chocolate cream pie.

"We are excited to welcome Black Bear Diner to the TA and Petro travel center network," said John Ponczoch, senior vice president of restaurant operations at Westlake, Ohio-based TravelCenters. "We know drivers welcome variety, quality food and a comfortable dining experience, and Black Bear Diner provides just that."

The addition of Black Bear Diner at TA Wheeler Ridge complements the facility's five other quick-serve restaurants (QSRs): Subway, Burger King, Popeyes, Pizza Hut Express and Taco Bell, the company said.

"Our goal is always to make sure professional drivers feel they can visit our locations, feel welcomed and find a wide variety of amenities to meet their needs," added TravelCenters President and CEO Tom O'Brien. "Black Bear Diner's fresh and homemade menu options are a good fit with the foodservice philosophy we live by at all of our TA and Petro locations."

Sixty-five Black Bear Diner restaurants now operate in Colorado and western states. All locations display a log cabin- and bear-themed atmosphere.

This latest restaurant opening comes a month after TravelCenters opened two new Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen restaurants at TA Jacksonville South in Jacksonville, Fla., and Petro Dodge City in Hanceville, Ala. Both locations serve the full Popeyes menu of Louisiana-style cooking. The Dodge City Popeyes is that site's first QSR concept.