Black Bear Diner Begins Hiring

A new restaurant and bakery coming to Milpitas plans to hire nearly 100 additional employees.

Celina Gonzales, franchise owner of Black Bear Diner, said managers have already been hired. But prospective candidates for all other positions should come to the . 

The positions, full and part-time, include:

• assistant managers

• hosts and hostesses

• servers and bussers

• cooks (and kitchen prep)

• machine operators (bakery equipment)

The job fair will take place at the restaurant location, 174 W. Calaveras Blvd., in the former building of Zahir's restaurant and Bakers Square. 

Owners Celina Gonzales and Sam Ghaben plan to open in late August. They've applied for building permits with the city to make changes to the site.

"We've submitted everything," said Gonzales. "We're moving right along."  

Milpitas' Black Bear Diner will operate from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily and stay open on holidays, she said. 

Gonzales said she likes the cozy, family feel of the diners, which have murals of bears adorning the walls and bear carvings. The chain and franchise is headquartered in Redding. The closest ones to Milpitas are in and Gilroy. 

"My husband and I were looking for something in the Bay Area, and we thought Milpitas would be a great place for a Black Bear," she said. The couple is also opening a second location in Vallejo and just finished hiring.

"I know there's a lot of good restaurants in town," she said. "[Black Bear Diner] takes you back to the days when diners were really special."

Among Gonzales' favorite dishes is the signature "chicken-fried steak".

The bakery will produce pies, cobbler, muffins and biscuits.

"We are going to be baking. That is a big part of what we do," she said. "It's just really good food."

To apply for a job, arrive at 174 W. Calaveras Blvd. on July 18, 19 or 20. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bring two forms of ID (such as a driver's license and Social Security card). Applicants are asked to have restaurant experience and a positive attitude.