My name is Cody “Papa Bear” Smith.

For as long as I can remember, cooking has been my calling. But Papa Bear's truly took shape in late 2021 when my wife and I received the incredible news that we were expecting our daughter. That moment ignited a fire within me to build something special, something that would not only provide for my family but also share my love for food with the community.

My first "location"? Hardy Elementary! (Shoutout Eagles!) I was on staff and needed to make some extra money to prepare for my daughter’s arrival. On days I prepared food, I would arrive at school at 6:30 AM to get breakfast ready. I'd be there feeding the amazing teachers and staff before starting my regular duties. It was grassroots, it was hustle, and it quickly showed me the incredible potential of Papa Bear's Fine Foods.

Fast forward, and we've come a long way! Papa Bear's has been spotlighted in CityScope Magazine, and I'm a proud alum of the Kitchen Incubator of Chattanooga's entrepreneur class of 2023, where I honed my business skills. Today, you can enjoy my breakfast creations at every BeCaffeinated.

Now, it's time for the next big leap: a Papa Bear's food truck! This isn't just about wheels; it's about expanding our reach, building deeper community connections, and bringing our beloved biscuits and breakfast burritos directly to you, wherever you are. Your support will be instrumental in purchasing and customizing our first truck, helping us serve an even wider audience and continue to grow this passion project into a thriving cornerstone of our community. Let's make this truck a reality together!

We plan to secure a business loan for the amount we don’t raise. We wanted to give friends and family an opportunity to support before going that route completely. Thank you all again so much for your love and encouragement since Papa Bear’s inception!