Owners’ dustup turns to legal duel at Little Bear Saloon in Evergreen

Less than two years after it was sold to a trio of business partners, the decades-old Little Bear Saloon in Evergreen is reportedly failing to pay its landlord, vendors and employees.

Known for its rustic Western appearance, the building at 28075 Highway 74 dates to the 1880s and has been Little Bear since the 1970s. It was last sold in late 2023.

The buyers were JR Iannaccone, Patrick Robson and Alexandra Robson. Iannaccone owns Bistro Del Lago, an Italian restaurant down the street from Little Bear, and Evergreen-based JR’s Landscaping & Property Maintenance. The Robsons are a local married couple.

On June 17, Iannaccone sued the Robsons and made some major accusations about them.

“Bank records reveal the defendants have been using the (Little Bear) LLC’s checking account and credit card as their own personal checking account and credit card, funding their personal life and failing to make necessary payments on behalf of the LLC,” he alleged.

“Due to the actions of the defendants, vendors, employees and even the LLC’s landlord have either not received monies owed to them or have had checks issued by the defendants on behalf of the LLC bounce,” says the lawsuit in Jefferson County District Court.

Iannaccone claims that he is the treasurer of Little Bear Holdings Saloon LLC and yet does not have access to the company’s books. He reportedly invested $100,000 in Little Bear Saloon but hasn’t received a single disbursement while the Robsons have taken several.