Black Bear Diner reopens after renovations

The grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony is at 1 p.m. Friday, June 9.

By Olivia Sullivan • June 6, 2023 1:00 pm

Black Bear Diner in Federal Way is officially out of hibernation. The restaurant reopened on June 6 after a four–month closure for renovations.

The 50-year-old building, located at 32065 Pacific Highway S. in Federal Way, received much-needed updates and upgrades.

“We thought it would take about two months, but it took almost four months to do it right,” said owner Danny Banwait, who owns five Black Bear Diner locations in Washington with his wife Darshana. “Here we are … [We’re] definitely happy with the way it turned out.”

Upon demolition, the 5,100-square-foot building was gutted and just three or four original walls remained, Banwait said. Everything else is brand new – from the plumbing to the roofing to the electrical and HVAC. Updated booths, lighting, signs and restrooms create a modern, brighter atmosphere for customers.

The newly renovated inside features light-wood colored countertops and bar stools, new carpet and an upgraded kitchen, which staff say is much easier to move through when filling diner’s requests.

Previously, the cooks’ line was pretty small, Banwait said. So, they added another six feet of space and all new equipment.

“That’s the engine of a restaurant, so [it has to] function and run smoothly,” he said. “The team’s really excited about that, the whole staff is excited about the back of the house remodel.”

Prior to the closure, Black Bear Diner has approximately 35 people on staff. Banwait says 99% of those staff members returned, in addition to hiring more employees for a current total of 85 employees.

As buzzy conversations, the clink of forks on breakfast plates and shouts of orders from the kitchen filled the air, diners (friends and family members of the staff) enjoyed the upgraded restaurant at the soft opening on June 3.

“What I’m looking forward to is getting back into the community, having our guests return, and making them happy,” he said. “That’s the first part. The second part is seeing the smiles on all of our employees’ faces.”

When the staff members returned for training, it was a reunion of coworkers-turned-family, he said.

The Black Bear Diner grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony is at 1 p.m. June 9.

The restaurant is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. The space has seating for 150 people, including a 40-seat meeting room.