Residents of Gary may have been surprised to see familiar streets, landmarks and neighborhood scenery suddenly appear on one of television’s most acclaimed shows, but city officials say the spotlight on the
Steel City was no accident.
Gary recently became the setting of a surprise 59-minute prequel episode of the Emmy-winning FX and Hulu series “The Bear,” titled “Gary,” which
premiered on Hulu on May 5. The episode, filmed on location in Gary, follows fan-favorite characters Michael “Mikey” Berzatto, played by Jon Bernthal, and Richie Jerimovich, portrayed by Ebon Moss-Bachrach, on a road trip to the city years before the timeline of the hit Chicago-based series.
For Gary officials, the episode represents more than a television cameo. It is an opportunity to showcase the city to a national audience through a lens rarely seen in mainstream entertainment.
“We were absolutely thrilled to wake up this week and see our city take center stage in the surprise prequel episode of FX’s critically acclaimed series, The Bear,” Mayor Eddie Melton said in a statement released Monday. “To have incredible talents like Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Jon Bernthal bring their storytelling to our streets is a powerful reminder of what we already know: Hollywood has its eye on Gary.”
According to Steve Mays, spokesperson for the City of Gary, filming for the episode took place in Gary and required the same approval process as any
major production.
“Yes, it was filmed in Gary,” Mays told the Gary Crusader. “All filming has to go through a process to get approved. Permits, etc.”
The city had advance knowledge of the production, though details remained largely under wraps until the episode aired.
Viewers familiar with Gary may recognize several locations featured in the episode, including the iconic Koney King Restaurant, scenes near the historic Roosevelt High School and a house across from Michael Jackson’s boyhood home at 2300 Jackson Street. Broadway and several other streets throughout the city also appear prominently.
Mays said the city is still working to confirm the location of a bar scene included in the episode.
For longtime residents, seeing Gary represented onscreen in a nationally recognized production carries a significance that extends beyond entertainment. For decades, the city has often been defined in national headlines by economic struggles, population decline and abandoned industrial sites. Yet city leaders have increasingly sought to reshape that narrative by emphasizing redevelopment, entrepreneurship, culture and investment.
Melton suggested the themes of “The Bear”, struggle, perseverance and resilience, reflect characteristics long associated with Gary residents.
“Gary has always been a city defined by its profound resilience, heart and undeniable grit, qualities that resonate deeply with the core themes of The Bear,” Melton said. “We are a community of hard workers, creators and builders who know what it means to endure challenging times, pull together
and come out stronger on the other side.”
The mayor also described the episode as a chance to highlight Gary’s ongoing revitalization efforts.
“When productions of this caliber showcase our home, it shines a national spotlight on our unique landscape and our ongoing revitalization,” Melton
said. “We are rebuilding, we are growing, and the world is taking notice.”
While “The Bear” may represent Gary’s most high-profile television appearance in years, the city has quietly built a history of serving as a backdrop for film and television projects.
Perhaps most notably, portions of the blockbuster film “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” were filmed in Gary in 2011, with producers using the
haunting architecture of the historic City Methodist Church and other abandoned structures to create post-apocalyptic scenes. The 2001 war film “Pearl Harbor” also utilized Gary’s industrial landscape and steel mill areas as part of its backdrop.
More recently, Gary-based entertainment company The New Black Entertainment filmed independent projects such as “Running with Wolves” and “219” in the city.
According to city officials, interest from film and television productions has continued to grow, fueled in part by renewed attention surrounding Gary’s ties to the legacy of Michael Jackson and the city’s distinctive industrial and historic settings.
“Yes, there has been ongoing interest in Gary,” Mays said. “With the recent Michael movie and now the release of The Bear, Gary has had multiple movies filmed in our city.”
For residents watching “Gary,” the surprise episode offered something not often seen in national entertainment: Gary portrayed not simply as a symbol of decline, but as a living city with history, character and stories still unfolding.
Melton said he hopes the episode marks the beginning of more opportunities to welcome filmmakers and storytellers to the city.
“Gary is not just a passing stop on a map; it is a city with a powerful, enduring story of its own,” Melton said. “We look forward to welcoming more storytellers to our community and showing the entertainment industry exactly what Gary, Indiana has to offer.”