Big Bear Columbus Commercial Montage (1987-1989)

[cavalierfan1995]

does anyone have the big bear comercial with the three bears getting ready for the ohio state game?they play hang on sloopy durring the comercial.

[Gegray]

Damn Giant Eagle for putting this place of business

[eswanmccheese]

They really wanted to go Krogering.

[ajwrangler1977]

@1CoolPilot: I think the sign may even still be on that particular store (161@Karl).

[Eddsqua88]

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG I just wet my pants :) I LOVED BIG BEAR

[1CoolPilot]

I worked at the Bear for 13 years, good old store 47 the Karl and 161 store, I was a bagger and then worked my way up to a front manager. Knew all the customers on first name basis (the regulars) and have some of the best memories from the people there i worked with. Those were the days...

[scope235]

WOW! I worked on the film crew for the BIG BEAR "1934" spot! That was a while ago...I was the Panavision camera assistant and also worked on the miniature Ford Model-A effects shots....we built a stop-motion kid for the rear 'rumble seat' and I did the animation.

[dukesgrill]

That commercial had two Columbus icons that are now defunct. Big Bear and Borden.

[Videosinreverse1]

is this place out of busniss?

the old scanner looks cool

[1spoonand2forks]

yes its been out of buissness since like 5 years or something

[artanis4ever]

Big Bear was my first job at 16, and when I left Ohio 5 years later I was a Front Manger at the Bethel Road Store... good times, nothing compares to the Bear.

[morbiddolly]

it was giant eagle that put big bear under i hate that fucking store

[AVIBobcat08]

Actually it was Big Bear that did it to them selves. Their prices were way too high and also Giant Eagle was not in Columbus when Big Bear went out of Business.

[converseguyslc]

@AVIBobcat08 Giant Eagle had been in Columbus for about 4 or 5 years when they AND Kroger bought some of the old Big Bear stores.

[holidayhouse03]

Giant Eagle was in Columbus...Westerville, Gahanna and 161 at least.

It was the parent company Penn Traffic that did them in. They bought the chain on borrowed money and then forced Big Bear to use their profits to repay the debt. It was too much. Penn Traffic has since filed their 3rd bankruptcy in 10 years and no longer exist. All of their 79 stores were sold to Tops for $85 million last month.

If high prices were to blame explain why Kroger and Giant Eagle are still here.

[AVIBobcat08]

Because Kroger and Giant Eagle actually give ensentives to shop at their stores. Big Bear gave nothing so why shop there? At least with Giant Eagle and Kroger they give you gasoline discounts and also Giant Eagle also gives you a percent off per 10 gallons of fuel. That does save you money right there I saved about 10 dollars because of that. Big Bear never offred anything like that now explain why Big Bear never did that?

[holidayhouse03]

Big Bear offered different incentives at different times in their 70 year history. Buckeye stamps and a point program to redeem for merchandise to name a couple. The trend to offer gas discounts is how old? Was there a fuel program at GE and Kroger in 2002? No there was not. You seem to neglect the fact that PENN TRAFFIC owned Big Bear from 1989 till the 2003 auction. Penn Traffic filed their THIRD bankruptcy in 10 years last November and no longer exist. Is that Big Bears fault?

[AVIBobcat08]

Big Bear should have never agreed to be bought by Penn Traffic. They were stupid and that was their fault.

[holidayhouse03]

Never heard of a hostile takeover huh? Big Bear was a publicly traded company.

Your anger towards the Bear seems to suggest that they fired you at one point.

Good day and good night to you...I'm done.

[AVIBobcat08]

Nope I never worked for Big Bear however they did fire my brother for not being able to make in to work because his car broke down. Which is why I dont like them. He even had the proff that his car was towed and was at the repair shop did it matter no? The just didnt care, my brother did find a better job though and thank God for that. Big Bear was a lousy employer anyways good ridance to them.

[holidayhouse03]

Penn Traffics website is still online. They were operating 79 stores under 3 different names. It appears that none of them are/were offering a fuel discount program. Is this also Big Bears fault?

[driver793]

is that helen hunt the movie acter

[beatlejeff76]

i was with big bear for 13 years, and miss it alot. they treated their people good, and payed good also.. no other store is going to compare to the bear....

[cheatmountain]

Miss you, Big Bear! Damn you, WalMart etc....

[holidayhouse03]

Damn Penn Traffic....that's who did it.

[Pdasilva0324]

My first job was at Big Bear Plus in east COlumbus (Whitehall) in 1993, shortly after we moved from the east coast. I ended up workin there for 4 years, which were my last 2 years of high school and first two years of college. I miss the store and the people. The decline of the company though, was so long and painful. The Main and Hamilton Store, where I worked, is still vacant, 4 and a half years after closing. Sad. The Town and COuntry store, which I also worked occasionally, is still closed.

[Ian16545]

You're all not alone. I remember Big Bear well, too.

[huggyface]

Though I've never resided in the Ohio-WV area (where BB existed), I've shopped there a few times while on a trip to Columbus in 2002..not long before they met their demise. I actually stayed at a motel alongside a Giant Eagle, and liked them too, but "the Bear" really was neat! Loved their salad bar, the deli, bakery-fresh donuts, and the logo with the big red letters and the black bear looked cool! Too bad their parent company drove BB into oblivion..so sad. RIP Big Bear

[DecepticonAvenger]

Everyone should miss BB. I worked there for 13 years and still aren't making the money I made at BB. Sucks. LOL

[bowtotherich]

Move to Rochester and get a Job at Wegman's they pay well and they love their employees

[holidayhouse03]

12 years and I hear you about the money.

Worked at Graceland, Schrock Rd, Town n Country and good old store 69 on High St.

[zeo53]

Awesome! I miss Big Bear a lot too! During these years Big Bear really had it going for them. Even towards the end Big Bear was still trying but Penn Traffic wasn't, and still isn't in my opinion!

[columbusmediatalk]

Funny thing is that Giant Eagle is basically going back into most of the same locations (either with new builds or back into the same buildings). That tells me the business is there if not for Penn Traffic's mismanagement.

[holidayhouse03]

As of Feb. 2010 Penn Traffic no longer exists

[bowtotherich]

well it looks like Penn Traffic is no longer in business as they have decided to liquidate. proving that their managment was never in the food business anyway. May Gary Hirsch go to hell. anywho Go Wegmans!

[BigBillCox]

Thank you so much for posting this. My family and I were long-time Big Bear shoppers and were saddened back in early 2004 when they closed their doors. This video takes me back. Thanks for all the good memories.