Marin Getting a Black Bear Diner

San Rafael, CA — A rapidly expanding family dining chain headquartered in Redding is opening another Bay Area restaurant soon — this time in Marin.

Black Bear Diner will open late this year or in early 2017 at 409 Las Gallinas Ave. — across from Northgate mall in Terra Linda — in San Rafael, according to Jairo Moncado, director of public relations for the company.

"Unfortunately I can’t offer you a concrete date this far out," Moncado told Patch.

The restaurant will be in a commercial space that formerly housed Heirloom Grill and Chili's, the Marin Independent Journal reported earlier this week.

“There’s lots of freeway visibility, it’s a great town right across from a mall — great location,” Franchisee Karan Gogri told the newspaper.

Founded in Mt. Shasta in 1995 by Bruce Dean and partners Bob and Laurie Manley, Black Bear Diner was "born from a desire to bring home-style comfort food classics and personal service back to the dining experience," according to BlackBearDiner.com. "The family dining concept offers a vast menu anchored on hearty portions and excellent value."

Burgers, sandwiches, breakfast items, cobblers and root-beer floats are some of the items customers can expect to see on the menu.

With franchises operating in many western U.S. states — California, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Utah, Oregon, Nevada and Washington — the company forecasts it will have 100 locations by 2018.

Some of the existing Bay Area Black Bear Diners include those in Emeryville, Vallejo, Sonoma, Oakland, Napa, Walnut Creek, Rohnert Park, Hayward, Suisun City, Pleasanton, Vacaville and Fremont.

(Photo courtesy of Black Bear Diner)