Polar Bear Eats grand opening brings locals back to the past
PRESTON, ID — The Polar Bear drive-in has come out of hibernation after 18 years.
A local favorite in Preston, Idaho, the family-owned business started ou offering hot dogs and drinks when it opened in 1952 but quickly expanded to become a hometown hero. The dining destination committed to the community for 53 years and left a lasting impact.
After its closure in 2005, new ownership reimagined the ‘50s themed restaurant and hosted a grand opening on Nov. 3.
Polar Bear Eats comes back to life after Preston local Sawyer Hemsley came up with the idea and received support from former owners Steve and Dixie Larsen.
The Polar Bear Eats grand opening in Preston on Nov. 3.
Hemsley, CEO of Hemsley Ventures and co-founder of Crumbl Cookies, has said he is committed to revitalizing Preston. Reopening a favorite restaurant is just the first step in doing so.
“It was a blast from the past,” said Heidi Chatterton, who attended the grand opening. “I wanted to bring my kids to see the new one.”
The event offered live music, face painting, swag giveaways and free fries to those who follow the restaurant’s page on social media.
The updated design encourages patrons to reflect on what once was and create new memories with their friends and family. Similar to the original walk-up window diner, the reimagined restaurant will not offer an indoor dining room. Instead, customers can order from the walk-up window, the parking lot, through a drive-through window or online for delivery.
“We would go to the Polar Bear when we were little with the black and white checkered floor and those red heart chairs, and so we were just excited that it was coming back,” Sierra Rasmussen said. “I came to the opening because it just brought back childhood memories.”
Ashley Burton, chief of staff for Hemsley Ventures, said they have a small team, but they are excited to see their dream finally come to life. The idea originated as Hemsley reflected with his parents on fond childhood memories at the restaurant.
After reaching out to the Larsen family, Hemsley Ventures bought the rights, name and recipes to the business.
“We worked alongside them to bring it back, and they were really excited,” Burton said. “I think what’s really cool about Sawyer is he went about it the right way. He’s bringing back something so nostalgic because it’s not just a cool burger — we are bringing back the original burger.”
Many patrons at the grand opening felt the same, reflecting on childhood memories as they ate.
“I grew up here and went to the old Polar Bear my entire childhood, and it was so amazing. I just have so many good memories,” Nicole Thomas said. “I have a friend that actually has passed away and that was like our favorite place to go. So we’ve been anticipating it for months.”
The restaurant honors old recipes while also bringing new additions to the menu. One staple on the menu, then and now, is onion fries. According to Burton, the team was able to source the same sour cream and onion fries so they will “literally be the exact same.”
“We’re hoping to bring back even more amazing flavors. We brought in some of the Preston locals to come try during our taste testing, and Dan Keller, the mayor of Preston, took a bite and said, ‘This is better than the original.’ That just made us so excited because with a lot of our flavors, we hoped to match the original or be better,” Burton said.
The cold weather at the opening didn’t stop patrons from enjoying their food, ice cream included, at the outdoor dining tables.
“It was really good. My son Kanyon said it’s the best burger he’s ever had. We’ll be coming back a lot. I think it is just so nostalgic,” Thomas said. “We always said ‘If only Polar Bear could come back,’ so it’s so awesome that it’s happening.”
Preston locals Kanyon and Kolter Thomas chow down on their cub meals at the Polar Bear Eats grand opening on Nov. 3.
The new eatery has quickly gained a following on social media since its first announcement in July 2022. Burton said the local response has been more than they hoped for.
“People are passionate about the brand, which I love because, to me, that means that they’re going to be like loyal customers. They remember the brand from when they were kids. The community is 100% supportive, and it’s so exciting,” Burton said.
In addition to the classics, the restaurant will also offer a limited-time menu where one new item is offered each week — a nod to Hemsley’s most well-known business venture, Crumbl Cookies, which introduces new cookies each week. The first week will showcase the BLT, and the coming week’s item will be announced each Sunday.
Other options on the menu include burgers with two cheese options, grilled cheese sandwiches, corn dogs, chicken tenders and their famous shakes, coming in “just about any flavor you can imagine.”
For early customers, the breakfast menu will include burritos, sandwiches, coffee and hot chocolate in the winter months.
The first day of the grand opening offered only burgers, fries, shakes and drinks. Lines ran long throughout the day, but the memories along the way kept customers happy.
“I think it’s a way to bring the community together, just sharing memories together. There was a lady that I was talking to in line — she hasn’t been around very long, so I was telling her about the past Polar Bear and how it brings people together,” Rasmussen said.
The team broke ground in April with hopes of launching in the summer. Burton says a lot went into the creation, more than they had anticipated. From architectural plans to website design, the intricate planning pushed their grand opening back to the end of fall.
“We can blame it on a lot of construction and all this stuff, but the reality is like, the best quality sometimes just takes time,” Burton said. “We just want to make sure when we open that we are 100% ready and excited.”
Construction continued during the grand opening, including landscaping and a new parking lot across the street, but the work surrounding the building didn’t stop patrons from participating in the festivities. Customers parked in the field next door and along the streets nearby.
“Honestly, anything Sawyer touches is magic,” said Laken Carson, Hemsley’s sister. “They’ve been working on it for about a year now, and somehow, with lots of bumps in the road, it turned out, and it’s been a success. We’re excited about it. The town has loved it, and really good feedback and that’s been probably the most fun so far.”
The Polar Bear Eats team is excited to bring back Preston’s finest, feeding everyone in the area and beyond.
For more information, visit polarbeareats.co/