Suzanne Stewart
Staff Writer
At the ripe old age of 24, Jacob Taylor has already been a busy young man. He entered the workforce in 2016 when he was just 14, working for both Jacob Meck Construction in Green Bank and the Bear’s Den in Arbovale.
Under the guidance of Meck and Angela Fisher, Taylor learned a lot about running a business, which gave him the confidence to start his own business – JRH Transport LLC – in 2021.
“I had this vision my whole life,” Taylor said. “I thought Jacob Meck could teach me something about the trucking industry.”
Taylor was no stranger to the trucking business. His father, Ray Taylor, was a log truck driver for Grimes Enterprises, LLC based in Dailey. Ray’s sister, Linda Grimes, and her husband, Terry, owned the company and it is now operated by their son, Randall.
“My vision in starting JRH Transport LLC was in memory of my dad, Ray H. Taylor,” Taylor explained.
The name of the company combined their names – Jacob Ray and Ray Hiner.
Despite having a clear vision, Taylor found that the trucking industry wasn’t right for him.
“I was like, ‘ I don’t think this path is for me,’” he said. “I like to talk to people. I’m a people person, so I like being face to face, talking to people.”
Then everything changed for Taylor one morning while he was eating breakfast at the Bear’s Den. Owners Herbie and Angela Fisher have had the Bear’s Den for sale for several years now, and that morning, they asked Taylor if he wanted to buy it.
“Just out of the blue, they said, ‘do you want to buy the Bear’s Den’ and I said, ‘sure,’” Taylor said. “I said, ‘wow, this is kind of bizarre.’ I always joked with Angela, saying, ‘why do I want to buy your business when it’s successful already.’”
But buying a business when it’s successful is the right move to make, so Taylor made it. With a successful business, there isn’t much need for change, which Taylor said he only plans to add to the Bear’s Den to make it even better.
“We’re going to bring in some deli meat,” he said. “We’re going to freshly slice it to the customer’s liking. We have Pretty Sippin’ coming in here. That’s Kinely Bennett with her coffees. She’s going to be in here making coffees. I’m going to work on bringing in Carhartt clothing.”
In addition to Carhartt clothing, Taylor will have Bear’s Den shirts for sale. Terry King, of Monterey, Virginia, and Crystal Keatley, of Buckeye, are making shirts with the Bear’s Den logo printed on them.
Taylor said his goal isn’t to compete with other businesses but to bring in items that people need and make it more convenient for them. With the recent closing of Trent’s in Arbovale, Taylor said he wanted to have the deli counter to fill that need.
One of the big gaps left by Trent’s is hardware and Taylor said he has been asked to bring in hardware items, but for now, he said he is going to focus on the convenience store, deli counter and the restaurant.
The restaurant will see small changes, with daily specials added to the menu, but local favorites such as the Friday through Sunday salad bar and Sunday buffet will continue.
“My motto is ‘bringing the good of Pocahontas’ because that’s what I want to do,” Taylor said. “I want to welcome everyone who walks in the door. We’re not going to shun anyone away here. I just want everyone to feel welcome.”
That’s how people have been welcomed at the location since the 1940s, when it was opened by Arlie Ryder and named Ryder’s. In 1967, the service station was rebuilt by Grover Taylor, and Violet “Tommy” Ryder, Arlie’s daughter-in-law, took ownership.
The restaurant was added in 1974 and was built by Jim Ryder, Sr., Violet’s husband. The store and restaurant were owned and operated by Violet and her son, Jimmie, until 2013, when the Fishers bought it and renamed it the Bear’s Den.
Taylor has fond memories of visiting Ryder’s as a child and is glad to be the new owner of the long serving business.
“I would get off the bus at my grandmother’s and grandfather’s, and we would come here and eat every single day,” he said. “This place does have a history to me, so that’s why I wanted to buy it. I’m glad Angela and Herbie gave me the opportunity.”
The business will continue to be a family thing, as Taylor will be joined by his mother, Linda, when she is not at her job at Snowshoe Resort. She will be his co-manager and help with daily operations.
“She’s kind of my second string,” Taylor said, laughing. “She enjoys the people here.”
One big change Taylor is going to make will be the hours the store and restaurant are open. To accommodate early birds and hunters alike, the Bear’s Den will be open Monday through Saturday, 4 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays, 4 a.m. to 8 p.m.
