Big Bear Stores

Big Bear

Company type	Supermarket
Industry	Retail
Founded	1933
Headquarters	Columbus, Ohio
Products	Bakery, dairy, deli, frozen foods, general grocery, meat, pharmacy, produce, seafood, snacks, liquor
Website	None

Big Bear Stores was a regional supermarket chain operating in Ohio and West Virginia. The company was founded in Columbus, Ohio, and was headquartered there until its acquisition by Syracuse, New York-based Penn Traffic in 1989. For nearly 75 years, the chain was a Central Ohio institution.

History

Big Bear Stores was founded in November 1933, in the depths of depression, by Wayne E. Brown, a dynamic individual with his own vision of the future of food distribution and retailing. The first Big Bear Store opened on February 15, 1934 on West Lane Avenue in Columbus, Ohio in what was once a dance hall, a roller skating rink, and finally a tan bark ring for horse shows, the first Big Bear store opened - the beginning of self service supermarketing in the Midwest. This first store was adjacent to the campus of the Ohio State University (now the site of the Riverwatch Tower apartments); Within a year, a second store opened in Columbus. By the end of the second year, two more stores had been opened, followed by stores in Lancaster, Marion, Newark and Toledo.

It was the first self-serve supermarket in the Midwest, and was the first supermarket in the country to use cashier-operated motorized conveyor belts, and claimed several innovative services, including its own trolley line. Big Bear introduced shopping carts to their stores in 1937. Big Bear operated a farm north of Columbus (later the site of store #272), as well as the Big Bear Bakery, located near the OSU campus. In 1948, Brown, along with other supermarket operators, founded Topco Associates, and Big Bear distributed their products (i.e. Food Club, Valu Time) as their "house brand", as well as their own private brand "Betty Brown", named after the founder's wife. Like many other stores, Big Bear had a trading stamp program. For many years their orange and blue "Buckeye" stamps were a familiar sight for shoppers.

In the 1950s, Big Bear became the first supermarket in the nation to use new IBM 305 RAMAC mainframe computer. In 1954, a new prototype store was opened in north Columbus' Graceland Shopping Center. With an interior store layout that became an industry standard, the store featured perishable items in the center of the stores and lower displays to highlight products. In the same year, Big Bear Stores Co. purchased Harts Stores, a department store that was operating at the time in the basements of two Big Bears. Harts experienced rapid growth, as Big Bear often opened grocery stores along with a Harts Department Store in an adjacent space.

Over time, Big Bear became a major supermarket chain in Ohio and West Virginia. In July 1988 the company started its hyperstore Big Bear Plus concept in Wintersville, Ohio (140,000 sq ft (13,000 m²)) and Bridgeport, Ohio (100,000 sq ft (10,000 m²)) the stores featured 40 percent food and 60 percent general merchandise. The hyperstore concept was a combination of its Harts Stores (29 stores as of 1991) and the Big Bear Grocery format.

Towards the end of 1990 the company decided to favor the Big Bear Plus store format over the Harts general merchandise format and started to slowly shutter or convert all remaining Harts locations. In 1991, ten side-by-side Big Bear and Harts locations were converted to the Big Bear Plus format. Before the demise of the company there were 21 Big Bear Plus stores.

Savings card

Big Bear Stores savings card was known as the "Big Bear Wild Card". After Penn-Traffic announced that Big Bear was ceasing operations, Kroger announced that it would now honor the Big Bear Wild Cards at their stores.

Slogans

• You'll Be Surprised By A Big Bear (late 70's-1981)
• Get The Bear Minimum Price! (1981-1986)
• That's My Bear (1986-1987)
• Give 'Em A Big Bear Hug! (1987-2004)
• All we did was listen (1997)

Big Bear Credit Union

The credit union was founded in June, 1957 as Big Bear Employees Credit Union by a group of employees that worked for the former Big Bear Stores Company. The credit union's office was located within the headquarters of the Big Bear Stores Company, located at 770 W. Goodale Blvd. in Columbus, Ohio. In 1983, the credit union moved its office to a Big Bear Stores satellite office, located at 1184 Dublin Road in Columbus. The new location allowed the credit union to double its space, and provided enough room for six employees. In 1990, the credit union moved into its first office with its own public entrance, located in converted warehouse space at 851 W. 3rd Avenue in Columbus. In March 2003, noting that only fifteen percent of the credit union's members were employed by Big Bear Stores Company, the credit union's membership voted to change the name of the credit union to Members First Credit Union, providing the credit union with a brand new identity. By the end of 2003, Big Bear Stores announced that their company would cease operations by the beginning of 2004. In March 2004, the credit union moved into a newly built facility, located at 1445 W. Goodale Blvd. in the heart of the Grandview / Marble Cliff area.

Downfall and Closure

In 1976, the company went private in a leveraged buyout, by six company executives. Big Bear again went public in 1983. The company's fortunes began to falter in the late-1980s with new competition from supermarket chains like Cub Foods and Meijer. The chain put itself on the auction block in late 1988 after 54 years as an independent company, including periods of both public and private ownership. Big Bear was bought out in April 1989 for $35 per share, or $352 million, for all outstanding common stock by large retailer Penn Traffic, which owns several regional supermarket chains. In 1993, Big Bear Stores became a division of the Penn Traffic Company, and through a series of changes in business and marketing strategies. One of the changes including the removale of long Big Bear President Steve Breech and his leadership team. Breeche's replacement, Phillip Hawkins, a former Vons Supermarket CEO was promoted as a turn around specialist. As long-time Columbus area shoppers complained about declining conditions in the Columbus area stores, Hawkins and company launched its infamous "All We Did Was Listen"[1] [2] campaign in 1997 featuring Hawkins speaking in front group of Big Bear employees in a reassuring tone of voice. Hawkins plan was to take Big Bear from its role as an up market chain into the value chain segment of the market. It didn't work. As the per store sales dropped and conditions in the stores declined, product suppliers pulled their items from store shelves as accounts went past due. Employees within Big Bear made a joke of Hawkins and his "All we did was listen" as hollow proof that management "listened" to employee and shopper concerns, but that was all they were prepared to do. By the end of Hawkins brief tenure, Big Bear was hemorrhaging red ink.

The chain's demise was finalized in 2004 when the last Big Bear stores closed their doors, following Penn Traffic's 2nd Chapter 11 bankruptcy in a decade. Some were acquired and reopened as Giant Eagle or Kroger stores; as of March 2005 many former Big Bear stores (especially West Virginia) remain empty, ghosts of a once ubiquitous supermarket chain.

Former locations

Note: Big Bear Plus stores are marked with Big Bear Plus; the others are regular Big Bear stores.

Big Bear Stores (pre 1988 auction)

Store No.	Phone No.	Street Address	City Address	Store Opened	Store Closed	Square Feet	Renumbered or Moved	Before Opening	After Closing	Now it is	Other Notes
1	614-291-4643	386 W. Lane Ave	Columbus, OH 43201	Feb 15 1934	Jul 25 1985				Demolished 198?	Riverwatch Tower Apartments	Included Leased depts. Rx Floral Bakery Restaurant Soda Fountain Appliances Shoe Repair Storeroom in Basement
2		2030 E. Main Street	Columbus, OH 43205	Mar 14 1935	Destroyed Bef. 1981		Move to below Address 1940	Piano Factory		Krogers	Piano crates used as shelving, Had leased Rx
		1815 E. Main Street	Columbus, OH 43205	1940			Address Change to Below 1962				First building built asa grocery store for the company
	614-262-2222	1805 E. Main Street	Columbus, OH 43205	1953	Jan 10 1979					Kidney Center Of Columbus
3		22-26 Spruce Street	Columbus, OH 43215	Mar 19 1936	Jan 14 1951		Move to Below Address 1951		Vacant	Parking Lot	Black and Silver colors
	614-228-2263	40 Spruce Street	Columbus, OH 43215	Jan 15 1951	Oct 27 1962		Move to Below Address 1963			Family Focus
	614-224-3065	777 Neil Avenue	Columbus, OH 43215	Oct 31 1962	Dec 9 1994		Rebuilt to 220	Houses until 1959 Razed		Giant Eagle 6516
4		2594 W. Broad Street	Columbus, OH 43204	Sept 24 1936	Moved to Below Address 1947			Gant Market 2594-8	S + H Green Stamps 1962-
		2596 W. Broad Street	Columbus, OH 43204	1947	Dec 3 1951		Moved to Below Address 1951
	614-279-8633	2835 W. Broad Street	Columbus, OH 43204	Dec 4 1951	Oct 12 1996		Rebuilt to 237				1st with Register Belts Junior Department Store #82 in Basement
5		1416 W. Sylvania	Toledo, OH 43612	Jun 6 1938	Feb 2 1957				Demolished	Mr. Suds Car Wash
6		895 Parsons Avenue	Columbus, OH 43206	May 10 1939	Dec 18 1955		Moved to Below Address 1956			Clean Machine Laundry
	614-443-6575	280 E. Whittier Street	Columbus, OH 43206	Dec 19 1955	Jan 17 2004	24,000		Empty Field w/ Gas station on corner until 1953		Giant Eagle 6508
7	614-263-3612	2572 Cleveland Avenue	Columbus, OH 43211	Oct 18 1940	May 29 1968				Demolished	A Better Choice Child Development Center
8	937-325-8569	1215 Sunset Blvd.	Springfield, OH 45505	Mar 20 1957	Dec 6 2003			Liberal Supermarkets of Dayton closed Mar 20 1957		Food For Less
9	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	NEVER EXISTED
10		230 Columbus Avenue	Lancaster, OH 43130	Mar 5 1940	Mar 16 1974						Opened as Miller Stores Co.
11	740-345-0945	61 S. Third Street	Newark, OH 43055	July 1 1940	January 2004	20,000				Lil\' Bear	Opened as Miller Stores Co.
12		250 W. Central Street	Toledo, OH 43610	Sep 3 1940	Jul 2 1961						Opened as Miller Stores Co.
13		245 N. Main Street	Marion, OH 43302	Sep 9 1942	??						Scheduled to open in 1940
	614-389-2212	1300 Mt. Vernon Road	Marion, OH 43302	Dec 16 1958	Aug 27 1993		Moved to 233
14		312 S. Limestone Street	Springfield, OH 45505	Jan 22 1948	??
	513-399-0901	2300 N. Limestone Street	Springfield, OH 45505	Aug 6 1957	Jul 5 1993		Remodeled to 224	Liberal Supermarkets of Dayton closed Mar 20 1957
15	513-324-3560	1014 W. Main Street	Springfield, OH 45502	Jan 22 1948	Mar 31 1995		Moved to 236			Family Dollar
16	614-453-2904	160 N. Fourth Street	Zanesville, OH 43701	Jun 2 1948	Apr 6 1991						Junior Department Store #83 in Basement
17	614-291-0130	1101 N. High Street	Columbus, OH 43201	Oct 29 1948	Mar 6 1984					Family Dollar
18		3918 Monroe Avenue	Toledo, OH 43606	Jan 18 1950	Nov 13 1965						Junior Department Store in Basement
19	614-488-9763	1451 W. Fifth Avenue	Columbus, OH 43212	Aug 9 1950	2004	60,000		Empty w/ Gas Station 1936-1950		Giant Eagle 6509
	614-481-0201				Jan 17 2004
20	614-235-4326	3790 E. Broad Street	Whitehall, 43213	Jan 15 1952	Oct 30 1987		Moved to 76			Staples
21	614-268-8685	3515 Cleveland Avenue	Columbus, OH 43224	Jun 9 1954	May 14 1996		Remodeled to 271
22	614-268-3577	169 Graceland Boulevard	Columbus, OH 43214	Jul 20 1954	Dec 1 1995		Moved to 269		Demolished 2006?	Empty Lot	Wall w/Harts removed 1959 Remodeled in Aug 1960 to Raymond Loewy design w/ 22 colors
	614-888-5577
23	614-947-7561	607 W. Emmitt Ave.	Waverly, OH 45690	Feb 1 1955	May 29 1999					Family Dollar
24		1195 W. Park Avenue	Mansfield, OH 44906	Mar 20 1956	Mar 3 1974
25	614-773-1139	617 Central Shopping Center	Chillicothe, OH 45601	Apr 10 1956	Jun 28 1991		Remodeled to 216
26		1017 Mount Vernon Road	Newark, OH 43055	Nov 13 1956	Nov 5 1977		Moved to 258
27	740-373-5567	128 Gross St. (Frontier Shopping Center)	Marietta, OH 45750	May 21 1957	Jan 17 2004	55,000				Giant Eagle 6510
28	304-422-0761	130 Park Center Drive	Parkersburg, WV 26101	Nov 5 1957	Nov 28 1996		Remodeled to 263
29	614-486-8771	1781 Kingsdale Center	Columbus, OH 43221	Mar 26 1958			Moved to Below Address			Chipotle	1st with Air-Curtain Door, Deli-Kitchen, Coronation Carillon Bellclock 1st in-store bakery in Sept 1961
		1775 Kingsdale Center	Columbus, OH 43221		1997		Moved to Below Address 1997?			Complete Petmart
	614-457-4751	1798 Kingsdale Center	Columbus, OH 43221	1997	Jan 17 2004	56,006				Giant Eagle 6511
30		630 Harrisburg Pike	Columbus, OH 43223	Nov 6 1958			Moved to Below Address 1964			Sunshine Cleaning Center	Opened w/ Rx
	614-221-4207	660 Harrisburg Pike	Columbus, OH 43223	1964	January 2004	28,726				Outland Cafe Club
31	304-523-5331	1681 Fairfield Plaza	Huntington, WV 25701	Apr 8 1959	Jan 6 2004	28,000	Liquor		Parking Lot for Cabell Huntington Hospital
32	614-235-4389	4632 E. Main Street	Whitehall, OH 43213	Sep 9 1959	Nov 1 1991		Remodeled to 262				Added Deli + Bakery 1970
	614-866-7456			1965
33		270 Rome-Hilliard Road	Hilliard, OH 43206	Jul 29 1959			Address Change to Below
	614-876-5217	3606 Main Street	Hilliard, OH 43206		Sep 15 1995					Big Lots
34		1251 N. Memorial Drive	Lancaster, OH 43130	May 18 1960	May 31 1989		Moved to 207
35	740-522-1133	553 Hebron Road	Newark, OH 43055	Oct 4 1960	Apr 7 1997		Remodeled to 270				Planned in 1956
36	614-491-0573	3723 S. High Street	Columbus, OH 43207	Dec 7 1960	Sep 17 1993		Moved to 225
37	740-452-2733	151 Maysville Pike	South Zanesville, OH 43701	Jun 18 1961	Nov 2002		Moved to 240				Planned in 1956
38	614-488-7379	1591 W. Lane Avenue	Upper Arlington, OH 43212	Sep 29 1961	Jan 1 1971		Destroyed by Fire	Eavey\'s Supermarket 1961		Petite Sophisticate
		1583 W. Lane Avenue	Upper Arlington, OH 43212	Feb 2 1972	Nov 16 1985		Rebuilt			GNC
39	740-393-6055	855 Coshocton Road	Mt. Vernon, OH 43050	Nov 20 1961	Jan 29 1993		Moved to 221
40	304-525-7459	115 Sixth Avenue	Huntington, WV 25701	Mar 21 1962	Feb 4 2004		Liquor			Huntington Food Fair
41	614-878-5371	4780 W. Broad Street	Columbus, OH 43228	Oct 10 1962	Feb 14 2004	50,155		Empty in 1961	Lincoln Foods	Giant Eagle 6519	Planned in 1955
42	614-237-3607	2811 Columbus-Lancaster Road	Columbus, OH 43227	Mar 4 1964	Jun 3 1983					Vacant
43			Wheeling Area	1964	Bef 1994
44		650 Ashland Road	Mansfield, OH 44905	Aug 12 1964	Apr 21 1984		Warehouse Sep 10 1980 til Close
45	740-775-3733	1075 N. Bridge Street	Chillicothe, OH 45601	May 6 1965	Mar 6 1992		Remodeled to 222
46	614-457-3770	3700 Riverside Dr.	Columbus, OH 43221	Jul 14 1965	Jul 6 1989			3746 Riverside Grocery 1964 Razed 1965		U.S. Post Office
47	614-888-0535	1575 Dublin-Granville Road	Columbus, OH 43229	Oct 20 1965	Jan 28 2000		Moved to 239	Empty in 1962 Gas and Bank in 1965		Lifestyle Family Fitness
48		1180 N. Court Street	Circleville, OH 43113	Dec 14 1966	Feb 26 1988		Moved to 203
49	614-451-6220	1920 Henderson Rd.	Columbus, OH 43220	Nov 1 1967	Mar 16 1990	22,500?	Moved to 211			Fresh Market
50	614-475-1600	459 Agler Road	Gahanna, OH 43230	Jan 17 1968	January 2004	22,500		Houses 1963-7	My Bear grocery	Vacant
51	740-286-4137	Jackson Square Center	Jackson, OH 45640	Mar 12 1969	Mar 27 1999	44,440?					Announced Sept 17 1968 (Wayne Brown\'s Hometown)
52		34 Westerville Square	Westerville, OH 43081	Dec 3 1969	Dec 4 1987	32,030	Moved to 75			Hancock Fabrics
53		1121 Bower Avenue	New Philadelphia, OH 44663	Aug 19 1970	Apr 15 1977
54	740-653-6030	1710 E. Main Street	Lancaster, OH 43130	Mar 20 1974	Jun 29 1991		Remodeled to 255
55	937-390-3100	2980 Derr Road	Springfield, OH 45503	Jan 18 1976	Jul 30 1993				Superpetz	Vacant
56	614-239-0989	1220 S. James Road	Columbus, OH 43227	Dec 14 1975	January 2004			1200 Eichhorn\'s IGA Foodliner 1961-63 Park Lane IGA 1965-7		Bargain Outlet
57	304-453-6123	4th Street W. Rt. 60	Ceredo, WV 25507	Nov 10 1976	Mar 30 1992		Remodeled to 257
58	740-366-3340	1660 N. 21st. Street	Newark, OH 43055	Nov 6 1977	Mar 16 1992		Remodeled to 258
59	614-274-0455	3435 Sullivant Avenue	Columbus, OH 43204	Oct 30 1977	January 2004	40,452		3425 A & P 1961-3
60	740-797-4526	70 N. Plains Road	The Plains, OH 45780	Sep 17 1978	January 2004					Foodland
61	614-885-0236	4665 Morse Centre	Columbus, OH 43229	Oct 21 1979	Jan 28 2000					Big Lots
62	614-882-5310	5700 Columbus Square	Columbus, OH 43229	Oct 4 1980	Oct 3 1998	31,616
63	614-863-1580	4280 Eastland Square Drive	Columbus, OH 43232	Jun 15 1980	January 2004	38,300
64		920 Columbus Avenue	Lebanon, OH 45036	Nov 22 1980	Aug 30 1988		Remodeled to 252
65	614-457-3635	889 Bethel Road	Columbus, OH 43214	May 16 1981	January 2004	42,000			Sunflower Market	Vacant
66	304-525-7825	2825 Fifth Avenue	Huntington, WV 25702	Nov 21 1981	Oct 11 1993		Remodeled to 259
67	304-428-7900	230 Gihon Village Shop Center	Parkersburg, WV 26101	Nov 27 1982	Nov 10 1995		Moved to 267
68	614-889-0308	6674 Sawmill Road	Worthington, OH 43085	Mar 2 1985	Apr 12 1996		Moved to 268			(vacant)/Pier One/Borders Stores
69	614-268-0976	2801 N. High Street	Columbus, OH 43202	Mar 30 1985	Jan 17 2004	62,000		2815 Olentangy Village Bowling Center		Giant Eagle 6512
70		55707 Industrial Drive	Bridgeport, OH 43912	Oct 16 1963	Jun 14 1988		Remodeled to 250
71	216-339-1966	2301 E. High Street	New Philadelphia, OH 44663	May 5 1965	Dec 16 1995
72	740-354-1211	4455 Old Scioto Trail	Portsmouth, OH 45662	Oct 27 1965	Nov 11 1990		Moved to 254
73	304-344-1717	118 Hills Plaza	Charleston, WV 25312	Aug 17 1985	Jan 4 2004	57,000	Liquor
74	740-592-4398	1008 E. State Street	Athens, OH 45701	Jul 1 1988	Dec 6 2003					Athena Grand Theater
75	614-899-6244	2551 Shrock Road	Westerville, OH 43081	Dec 5 1987	January 2004	53,704				The Raisin Rack grocery store	Last Orange/Brown/Green/Yellow color scheme
76	614-231-2780	3680 E. Broad Street	Columbus, OH 43213	Oct 31 1987	Jan 4 2004	53,001		Miracle Bar 1961-7
79	614-861-4628	6300 E. Livingston Avenue	Reynoldsburg, OH 43068	Nov 8 1972	Apr 2 1991		Remodeled to 256				Planned in 1963

Ohio

• Urbana - No. 200 280 Patrick Ave Urbana, OH 43078 - (opened ?, closed 2004, 25,000 sq ft (2,300 m²))
• Circleville - No. 203 120 Morris Road Circleville, OH 43113 - (opened 1987, closed 2004, reopened as Jubilee Foods 2004, 43,883 sq ft (4,077 m²))
• Columbus - No. 206 100 Dillmont Drive Columbus, OH 43235 - (opened 1990, closed 2004, space split, now half Big Lots and half vacant, was 56,859 sq ft (5,282 m²))
• Lancaster - No. 207 1430 River Valley Rd. Lancaster, OH 43130 - (opened 1989?, closed 1999, 56,596 sq ft (5,258 m²))
• Pickerington - No. 208 1171 Hill Road North Pickerington, OH 43147 - (opened 1989, closed 2004, 55,990 sq ft (5,202 m²))
• Gallipolis - No. 209 31 Upper River Rd. Gallipolis, OH 45631 - (opened 1989, closed ?, 43136? sq ft)
• Gahanna - No. 210 920 Hamilton Road Gahanna, OH 43213 - (opened 1990, closed 2004, 55,000 sq ft (5,100 m²))
• Columbus - No. 211 2700 Bethel Road Columbus, OH 43220 - (opened 1988, closed 2004, demolished in 2007 and replaced by a Wal-Mart )
• Westerville - No. 212 1220 County Line Road Westerville, OH 43081 - (opened October 1993, closed 2004, 57,748 sq ft (5,365 m²))
• Zanesville - No. 215 2800 North Maple Ave. Zanesville, OH 43701 - (opened ?, closed 2004)
• Chillicothe - No. 216 660 Central Center Chillicothe, OH 45601 - (opened 1956/1991, closed 2004, reopened as Community Markets 2004, 44,000 sq ft (4,100 m²))
• Columbus - No. 220 777 Neil Ave. Columbus, OH 43215 - (opened ?, closed 2004, reopened as Giant Eagle 2004, 37,003 sq ft (3,438 m²))
• Mt. Vernon - No. 221 1550 Coshocton Rd. Mt. Vernon, OH 43050 - (opened 1993, closed 2004, 34400? sq ft)(original building was the new Kroger building, it was built before 1960 and left vacant when they moved in 1993 to the 1550 address)
• Marysville - No. 223 15715 US Highway 36 Marysville, OH 43040 - (opened 1993, closed 2004, 36,052 sq ft (3,349 m²))
• Springfield - No. 224 2300 N. Limestone St. Springfield, OH 45503 - (opened 1994, closed 2003, reopened as Kroger 2004)
• Columbus - No. 225 3811 South High Street Columbus, OH 43207 - (opened ?, closed 2004, 44,960 sq ft (4,177 m²))
• Washington Court House - No. 226 300 Washington Square Washington C.H., OH 43108 - (opened 1980?, closed 2004, 40,980 sq ft (3,807 m²))
• St. Mary's - No. 227 1550 Celina Road St. Mary's, OH 45885 - (opened ? as Pantry Pride, bought by big bear 1992, closed 2004)
• Celina - No. 228 725 West Logan Street Celina, OH 45822 - (opened ? as Pantry Pride, bought by big bear 1992, closed 2004)
• Celina - No. 229 901 East Wayne Street Celina, OH 45822 - (opened 1979 as Pantry Pride, bought by big bear 1992, closed 2004, 41,316 sq ft (3,838 m²))
• New Bremen - No. 230 444 South Washington Street New Bremen, OH 45869 - (opened ? as Pantry Pride, bought by big bear 1992, closed 2004, 40,000 sq ft (4,000 m²))
• Wapakoneta - No. 231 805 Defiance Street Wapakoneta, OH 45895 - (opened ? as Pantry Pride, bought by big bear 1992, closed 2004 Reopened as Community Markets)
• Coshocton - No. 232 793 South Second Street Coshocton, OH 43812 - (replaced Kroger in 1994, closed 2004)
• Hilliard - No. 235 5419 Roberts Road Hillard, OH 43026 - (opened 1995, closed 2004, 54,780 sq ft (5,089 m²))
• Springfield - No. 236 1707 N. Bechtle Ave Springfield, OH 45504 - (opened 4/1/1995, closed 2004, 55,000 sq ft (5,100 m²))now Best Buy and Petsmart
• Columbus - No. 237 2865 W. Broad Street Columbus, OH 43204 - (opened 1996, closed 2004, 38,000 sq ft (3,500 m²))
• Bellefontaine - No. 238 2250 South Main St. Bellefontaine, OH 43311 - (opened 1996, closed 12/5/1998. Split into two stores 2001, now a Staples and a Goody's - discount clothing store. 52,399 sq ft (4,868 m²))
• Columbus - No. 239 1501 Dublin-Granville Road Columbus, OH 43229 - (opened Jan 29 2000, closed 2004, 55,096 sq ft (5,119 m²))
• Bridgeport - No. 250 55707 Industrial Drive Bridgeport, OH 43912 - (opened ?, closed 2002, 100,000 sq ft (10,000 m²)) Big Bear Plus
• Wintersville - No. 251 100 Main Street Wintersville, OH 43952 - (opened ?, closed 2004, 140,000 sq ft (13,000 m²)) Big Bear Plus
• Lebanon - No. 252 920 Columbus Avenue Lebanon, OH 45036 - (opened 1980?, closed 2004) Big Bear Plus
• Wapakoneta - No. 253 1340 Bellefontaine Street Wapakoneta, OH 43952 - (opened ?, closed 2004, 70,000 sq ft (7,000 m²)) Big Bear Plus
• Portsmouth - No. 254 3920 US Route 23 Portsmouth, OH 45662 - (opened 1965, closed 2004, now JW Village Market IGA) Big Bear Plus
• Lancaster - No. 255 1719 E. Main Street Lancaster, OH 43130 - (opened 1992, closed 2004, 98,000 sq ft (9,100 m²)) Big Bear Plus
• Reynoldsburg - No. 256 6300 E. Livingston Ave. Reynoldsburg, OH 43068 - (opened 1976?, closed 2004, 101,067 sq ft (9,389 m²)) Big Bear Plus
• Newark - No. 258 1660 N. 21st Street Newark OH, 43055 - (opened ?, closed 2003, 110,000 sq ft (10,000 m²)) Big Bear Plus
• Hilliard - No. 260 3700 Fishinger Blvd. Hilliard, OH 43026 - (opened 1986?, closed 2004, reopening as Kroger Marketplace 2007, 116,676 sq ft (10,840 m²)) Big Bear Plus
• Whitehall - No. 262 4632 E. Main Street Whitehall, OH 43213 - (opened 1959?, closed 2004, 100,946 sq ft (9,378 m²)) Big Bear Plus
• Grove City - No. 265 2173 Stringtown Rd. Grove City, OH 43123 - (opened 1993, closed 2004, reopened as Giant Eagle 2006, 70,000 sq ft (7,000 m²)) Big Bear Plus
• Dublin - No. 266 6700 Perimeter Loop Rd. Dublin, OH 43017 - (opened 1996, "closed" 2004 and became a Giant Eagle the next day, 79,854 sq ft (7,419 m²)) Big Bear Plus
• Columbus - No. 268 3670 W. Dublin-Granville Rd. Columbus, OH 43235 - (opened 1996, closed 2004 reopened as Whole Foods 2006, 74,901 sq ft (6,959 m²)) Big Bear Plus
• Columbus - No. 269 199 Graceland Blvd. Columbus, OH 43214 - (opened ?, closed 2004, reopened as Kroger Marketplace 2006, 110,915 sq ft (10,304 m²)) Big Bear Plus
• Heath - No. 270 553 Hebron Road Heath, OH 43056 - (opened 1960, closed 2004, reopened as Giant Eagle 2004, 67,000 sq ft (6,200 m²)) Big Bear Plus
• Columbus - No. 271 3515 Cleveland Avenue Columbus, OH 43224 - (opened ?, closed 2004, 65,560 sq ft (6,091 m²)) Big Bear Plus
• Powell - No. 272 4000 West Powell Rd. Powell, OH 43065 - (opened 1997, closed 2004, reopening as Giant Eagle December 2006, 75,729 sq ft (7,035 m²)) Big Bear Plus
• Columbus - No. 273 6867 East Broad Street Columbus, OH 43213 - (opened ?, closed 2004, reopened as Giant Eagle 2004) Big Bear Plus
• Marion -No. ?? Opened 1950 on North Main Street. Building was an army surplus Quonset building. Store closed in 1960 with the opening of the Marion Plaza Store.
• Marion -No. ?? Opened 1960 at Marion Plaza Shopping Center, Mt Vernon Avenue, Marion Ohio 43302. Closed in 1980s when replaced by newer building further east on Marion-Mt. Gilead Road.
• Marion - No.?? Opened in mid 1980s. Big Bear took the store lease over from Clyde Evans Super Markets following a decision to close the Evans Grocery Store. Closed early 1990s. Kroger Corporation assumed lease and operates the store currently.
• Upper Arlington - No. ?? Lane Avenue Shopping Center - (opened 196?, closed 1980) Located on east end of shopping center along the Wellesley Lane extension.
• Sidney - No. ?? Sidney, OH 45365 - (opened 1988?, closed 1999?, 55,000 sq ft (5,100 m²))Now occupied by Big Lots,Jack's Pets and Hibbert Sports.
• Springfield - No. ?? 1014 W Main St Springfield, OH 45504-2756 - (opened ?, closed ?) This was the first Big Bear in Springfield and currently is a Family Dollar.

West Virginia

• Huntington - No. 31 1681 Fairfield Plaza Huntington, WV 25701 - (opened 1959, closed Jan. 6, 2004, 28,000 sq ft (2,600 m²)) Demolished in late 2004 to expand parking lot at nearby Cabell Huntington Hospital
• Huntington - No. 40 115 Sixth Avenue, Huntington, WV 25701 - (opened 1965, closed 2004, re-opened Nov. 2004 as a Foodfair location)
• Charleston - No. 73 118 Hills Plaza Charleston, WV 25312 - (opened Aug. 1985, closed 2004, Partially reopened & remodeled in 2006 as a BIG LOTS store. 57,000 sq ft (5,300 m²))
• Teays Valley - No. 213 100 Liberty Square Hurricane, WV 25520 - (opened 1990, closed 2004, 56,724 sq ft (5,270 m²))
• Huntington - No. 217 2054 Third Ave Huntington, WV 25701 - (opened 1985, closed 2004) Liquor Plus This was a successful beer and liquor outlet near Marshall University campus operated by Big Bear Stores. The building now houses a Fastenal.
• Parkersburg - No. 218 615 Ann Street Parkersburg, WV 26101 - (opened ?, closed 2004) Liquor Plus
• Ceredo - No. 257 4th Street W. Rt #60 Ceredo, West Virginia 25507- (opened 1974, closed 2004, 105,000 sq ft (9,800 m²)) Big Bear Plus Half of the building was converted into a Harbor Freight Tool Store. The other half remains vacant.
• Huntington - No. 259 2825 Fifth Avenue Huntington, WV 25702 - (opened ?, closed 2004) Big Bear Plus currently being converted into a school for St. Mary's Hospital
• Parkersburg - No. 263 180 Park Center Drive Parkersburg, WV 26101 - (opened 1996?, closed 2004, reopened 2006 as Ollie's Bargain Outlet, 110,000 sq ft (10,000 m²)) Big Bear Plus
• Parkersburg - No. ?? 230 Gihon Village Shopping Plaza, Parkersburg, WV 26101 - (opened ?, closed 2001?)

See also

• Penn Traffic
• Harts Stores