'The best unkept secret in Ocala': Hungry Bear celebrates 50 years in business

Hungry Bear Drive-In restaurant of Ocala turns 50 this month. But when the little red brick takeout-only fast food restaurant with dual drive-thru lanes opened in 1973, critics said the business wouldn’t survive.

“I remember people saying: ‘It’ll never make it.’ We had the first drive-thru in Marion County,” said Larry C. Mayhew, 68, son of Larry A. Mayhew, who founded the restaurant and Mayhew Pest Control.

Larry A. Mayhew died in 2019.

Larry C. Mayhew said some people told his father the novel idea of the takeout, dual-lane fast food drive-thru “wouldn’t last.”

The dual drive-thru and center walk-up window is part of the restaurant’s business plan, but customers say it’s the friendly service and personalized food prep that keeps them coming back.

Hungry Bear has just 512 square feet of floor space, according to building records, and is located at 420 S. Osceola Ave. It's near two public schools and convenient to downtown Ocala.

Julie Moody, who taught at nearby Osceola Middle School, has been a customer for about 35 years.

She used to drive through almost every weekday morning for her “half and half” lemonade and iced tea drink.

“The tea got me through the day,” she said.

Moody still visits the restaurant to “come see Kathy (Mann),” she said as she placed an order recently.

Kathy Mann is Hungry Bear’s longtime manager. She was on duty recently along with her daughter-in-law and occasional helper, Danielle, an operating room first assistant. Joining them was the restaurant business operation owner since 2012, Linda Williams.

Moody likes the restaurant’s bacon grilled cheese sandwich.

“(Hungry Bear) is the best unkept secret in be Ocala,” Moody said.

Antoine Taylor, 56, likes the made-to-order service he has gotten from the restaurant for about 25 years.

“Oh, man,” he said describing the taste of the fresh-made burgers.

Williams said Taylor likes “his lettuce and tomato on top” of the burger patty.

Joe and Christine Licari of Joe’s Tree Service have an office nearby and both walked up to the service window to order lunch on a recent day. He got a Grandpa Bear and she opted for a grilled cheese.

Christine Licari noted the restaurant’s unique combination of location, quality food and service.

A look back at Hungry Bear's history

Larry C. Mayhew said his father favored a koala bear image as a logo for the already operating pest control business and transferred a bear type logo to the new restaurant.

The restaurant still serves a tried and true signature burger menu: Baby Bear, small single burger; Mama Bear, small double; Papa Bear, large single; and Grandpa Bear, large double.

Chicken sandwiches, grilled cheese, ham and cheese, hot dogs and kids’ meals are available and sodas, milkshakes and other beverages are served.

Larry C. Mayhew said in the early days of operation the restaurant ran a “Papa Bear Special” featuring a burger, small fries and a soda for $1.25. The customer line would stretch nearly a block down Osceola Avenue.

“The restaurant was also (just blocks from) the Sprint (former United Telephone) building,” which housed perhaps hundreds of employees, Mayhew said.

Mayhew said his family moved to Ocala from Maryland when he was 2 years old. His father worked with a local pest control company and then established Mayhew Pest Control.

Prior to opening the Hungry Bear, his father consulted with Lenny Falcone, owner of a successful local burger restaurant called “Lenny’s Gold Mine.” He partnered with Falcone for a time with the Hungry Bear, Mayhew said.

Gladys Bates, a local burger chef, was hired to open Hungry Bear, Mayhew said.

Bates purchased the restaurant operation in 1986 and operated it for several years before her daughter took over the business. Williams, who is Bates’ sister, has operated the business since 2012.

Mayhew and his sister Teri Mayhew Adams, the founder’s daughter, both worked at Hungry Bear in its earlier days.

One of Larry’s memories was feeding about 100 employees during a Skyline manufacturing inventory.

Teri Mayhew Adams described large crowds waiting to be served at the restaurant and joked her “math doesn’t go that high” to give the number.

Larry A. Mathew ran the operation for several years and was followed by several owners. Bates purchased the Hungry Bear in 1986 and operated the business until 2009.

Bates’ daughter ran the operation until 2012 when current manager, Linda Williams, Bates’ sister, took ownership.

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The Mayhew family still leases the property for the Hungry Bear, which is adjacentto the pest control office.

So many satisfied customers at Hungry Bear

Robert Clemons has been coming to the Hungry Bear for 20 years. He visited the walk-up window recently to order lunch.

He said his son attended Osceola Middle School. Clemons recalled after school let out, groups of students would make their way to the restaurant.

“Good people, good food,” he said.

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Little old Hungry Bear defies the odds, makes it to 50 years