About

55 years ago, Jerry and Marcelle Bear purchased their first McDonald's restaurant in Elgin, Illinois. With nothing more than a walk-up and seating for four (the coveted Big Mac not yet on the menu), they managed and worked the restaurant themselves. From the 1960’s through the 1990’s, the couple franchised another 9 restaurants where they immersed themselves in the local communities to which their McDonald's served. Their passion for bringing great service to the community was evident both in and out of their restaurants - and contributed to the creation of a family business. Their son David Bear, born and raised in the McDonald’s restaurants, quickly learned all areas of the business - from cooking burgers to mixing shakes.In 1990, David graduated from Northwestern University (majoring in Economics) and has since dedicated himself to continuing the success of the family business started by his parents. David Bear currently owns and operates 30 McDonald’s franchises which employ over 1,600 people and serve nearly 11-million meals across northern Illinois each year. The Bear Family Restaurants is committed to being socially responsible and engaged leader in the business community that their restaurants serve. Their goal and promise is to “Impress Every Guest” by always greeting their guests with a smile, treating them with respect, and displaying genuine, sincere and humble appreciation. They host dozens of McTeacher nights, give back to local social service agencies and volunteer at local charities. They are the recipients of multiple community service awards, including the 2013 Illinois Family Business of the Year from the Loyola University Chicago Quinlan School of Business.