Who's Eric Keck?
Eric and his wife, Cynthia and daughter, Laura moved to Post Falls a little over a year ago from Utah. Eric was City Manager of Draper, a Salt Lake City suburb of 35,000 people.

In the course of the day Eric Keck oversees the operation of one of the fastest growing cities in Idaho. It’s a complex job that includes managing the construction of the new Post Falls city hall. So it’s no surprise that when he can get away for lunch his choice is simple and close by the office.

Big Bear Deli is a “mom and pop” operation that’s one of the newer eateries in the River City. Located in an A-frame building that once housed a beauty salon, the ambiance is what appeals to Eric. “The food is fantastic, priced reasonably and the service from the owners, Cathy and Tim Riorden, is friendly,” he says. There are over two dozen sandwiches on the menu and fresh salads served with homemade dressings. Eric’s favorite lunch is the Black Forest, which is roast beef, Swiss cheese and slaw served on marble rye with Dijon mustard.

“They have a very unique Dijon mustard blend that’s outstanding and the pumpernickel bread is always very fresh,” Eric comments. “Between the A-frame building, rustic interior and the Black Forest sandwich, the whole experience reminds me of a mountain chalet in Germany.”

An unexpected treat are the special desserts which feature Cathy’s homemade cupcakes in two sizes...regular and really big.

For Eric the Big Bear Deli is a great place for small, intimate business lunches in a low-key setting before he heads back to the hard hat zone of city hall.