A CT couple used a wing eating prize to start an eatery. It’s now a smokehouse BBQ empire

Jamie “the Bear” McDonald ate 317 wings in 2013 to win $20,000 in the Philadelphia Wing Bowl.

Although the experienced competitive eater felt, “horrible” afterward, it would turn out to be a brilliant business move.

McDonald and his wife at the time, Cheryl Antoncic, used the winnings to buy a smoker and soon after launched “Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ” in Windsor.

Now they have eateries in Hartford County, New Haven and North Carolina.

The couple are no longer married, but they run the successful, growing business amicably together.

“I know we wouldn’t be where we are today if it weren’t for our teams and guests,” Antoncic said. “They’re the reason we’re successful.”

On June 3 from noon to 11 p.m. at the New Haven Restaurant, at 470 James St., the pair is throwing a free family friendly 10th anniversary celebration of the overall business, or as the flyer says, “Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ Pulls Out All the Stops for “10th Anniversary Freakin’ Awesome Party.”

The celebration will include Guinness Book of World Records-holding sideshow performers, including as contortionist and foot archer Tori Kubick, a sword swallower, a fire thrower, Ivan the Magician, an aerialist, and a unicyclist and more.

For the business, at the end of the day there’s a lot the co-owning former couple agree on, including that they each bring something special to the business, both embrace giving back to the community and they each appreciate their customers and employees.

“The anniversary party to celebrate our customers and all of our supporters,” he said.

It started with an idea: Antoncic and McDonald were a young, broke married couple with two children and jobs when they thought, “Wouldn’t it be great to work for ourselves?” Antoncic.

She noted to McDonald there was no great barbecue in the area.

But the money just wasn’t there.

Then he won the eating contest, bought a smoker and they held a trial run at Bart’s Drive-in in Windsor.

That first Saturday they gave out free food samples to test the market.

“It was such a massive success we ran out of food for Sunday except for chili,” she said. “We opened on a Monday and never looked back.”

They stayed at Bart’s until 2014, then opened in downtown Hartford on Arch Street and since moved to Front Street. Later in 2014 they opened on Route 75 in Windsor, then opened small takeout in South Windsor. New Haven opened in 2019.

They also have two restaurants in North Carolina, where Antoncic lives, and their son is involved in the business.

The pair is also getting ready to open a 25,000-square-foot warehouse in Windsor Locks.

Those eating contests

When the couple met they were both competitive body builders and then he became a competitive eater who made money.

No longer a competitive eater, McDonald holds 14 world records in competitive eating and at one point was number one in the world for competitive eating, he said.

He’s won contests eating apple pie, pumpkin pie, meatballs, hamburgers , pizza, onion rings and pulled pork.

All the rubs and sauces the eateries use are McDonald’s original recipes – developed through trial and error and taste testing. He had no background in culinary endeavors when they started but it grew.

“That’s something I’ll give Jamie full credit for – the quality of the meats we serve today,” she said.

Bear’s is also known for its huge portions and Antoncic said that’s because “we both really like to eat,” and as a young couple with two kids, “going out to eat was limited for us.”

“We added value with portions for people who liked it,” she said.

Both say they have a good professional relationship and strengths that complement one another.

She’s good at organization and human resources, he said and he’s good at at developing menus, recipes, and food quality, she said

“Bear’s wouldn’t be what it is without either one of us,” McDonald said.

Antoncic said, “At the end of the day the business took on a life of its own,” Antoncic said. “Bear’s is a magical place. People love Bear’s. When you’re on to something special you keep it.”

Bear was the nickname given to McDonald by his father.

McDonald said he likes “feeding people.”

“People come in, you ask how their day has been they’ll say, ‘not great so far.’ but it makes their day a little better,” he said.

One aspect the pair also is committed to is giving back to the community.

They have a Bear’s Foundation which funds mental health initiatives, suicide prevention and other causes.

“It’s because it’s much more important than serving brisket and Mac and cheese,” she said.

They are both also proud to hire second-chance employees and made headlines seven years ago when they raised their minimum wage to $15 per hour.

McDonald also is on the Board of Connecticut Foodshare, and a volunteer at World Central Kitchen.

“We continue to give back to the community – to make the world a better place,” he said.

In addition to entertainment June 3, Bear’s will offer food specials featuring their award-winning BBQ and drink specials spotlighting custom house brews created for Bear’s by New England Brewing Company.

“Connecticut has welcomed us with open arms and hearts for a decade,” McDonald said. “We are excited to thank everyone for supporting Bear’s with this insane party.”

In addition to the June 3 event, Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ will be feted at Dunkin’ Donuts Park on June 6 when the Yard Goats face off against the Somerset Patriots.

The 7:10 p.m. game is also the minor league baseball team’s Pride Night, so guests are encouraged to show their pride while celebrating the anniversary.