Big Bear's BBQ opened in November of 2007. Sandra and I (Richard Tidwell) took over the restaurant in April of 2008 when the previous owner wanted to sell out and move on to other ventures.

With over 20 years experience between us in the restaurant business we knew this was what we wanted to do. I have a passion to cook and she has a passion for the restaurant business so we felt this was a great fit for us.

Sandra remembers back when she first worked at this location on Dean Ave. as a cook for the Weiner King back when she was 14 years old back in 1972. From there she worked as an assitant manager for over 13 years at a local breakfast restaurant. She got out of the restaurant business and worked at a local chair manufacturing company in their office for several years answering the phone and other things until she decided to get back into the food business where she went to work for a catering service for a few years and then the local school system in the cafeteria of a local high school.

Richard worked for his parents in the restaurant business at 11 years old where he developed a passion for the food service as well as ice cream mix. His parents owned their first restaurant business for a year before building and opening their own service station and restaurant from 1970 - 1977. Once he married Sandra in 1977 he moved into the management of a local fast food restaurant for several years and then worked for Jacks food systems in Alabama as well. He ran a BBQ restaurant for a local business owner for a year and then worked for a local fast food hamburger chain for 4 years. After this he moved into the IT business working with local as well as global companies helping them with their computer and web presents needs for over 15 years.

When the opportunity fell in our laps to purchase Big Bear's BBQ we felt like it was the right time and right business since we had been discussing opening a restaurant for several years. We felt it was just a God sent opportunity for us.