Closed for six months during COVID-19 pandemic, this classic Macon restaurant reopens

After closing for nearly six months due to the coronavirus pandemic, a classic Macon meat-and-three restaurant has reopened its doors.

The Bear’s Den opened Monday with a remodeled restaurant and an updated menu, said owner Kristi Lyles.

“It went really well,” she said. “Everything was a little slower than usual, but we planned it that way.”

Although restaurant staff posted on Facebook about their reopening, Lyles decided not to advertise their reopening a lot on social media in order to make the transition smoother. But she said the Bear’s Den is ready for people to see what she’s done with the restaurant.

The restaurant has been modified to meet the CDC guidelines to reduce the spread of COVID-19, creating barriers between booths and installing social distancing stickers.

Employees are also following CDC guidelines by making sure everything is sanitized and clean, she said.

The Bear’s Den offers dine-in, take out and catering options, and they have updated their menu to offer their more popular items more times per week, she said.

The restaurant had to close March 20 because Lyles said it was difficult to adjust to producing less food for fewer people with their restaurant’s style.

“All of our employees are so happy to be back,” she said. “We’ve had customers say, ‘This was the hardest part of COVID.’”

The Bear’s Den also has a new website at thebearsdenmacon.com that features their new menu and catering options, Lyles said.

The restaurant is open for dine-in from 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday and for take out from 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday.

“We would love for people to come see us and see what we’ve done,” she said.