10 Things You Didn't Know About Red Robin

In the world of chain restaurants, burgers are king. Burgers are one of the most ubiquitous menu items in America, so it can't be easy to base an entire chain restaurant concept around them when there's so much competition. But Colorado-based Red Robin takes its burgers very seriously, and has been able to carve out a sizeable chunk of the market. Here are 10 things we bet you didn't know about Red Robin. 

Sam (whose last name has been lost to the ages) was a member of a barbershop quartet, and was frequently singing the 1926 hit "When the Red, Red Robin (Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along)" to himself. He was apparently a superfan of the song, because it inspired him to change the name of the bar to Sam's Red Robin. 

The bar was a popular one, largely because of its proximity to the University of Washington, whose students would frequently hang out there.

Because the earliest incarnation of Red Robin was still a bar, the food menu was limited, to say the least. Sales skyrocketed after Kingen added burgers to the menu a few years after purchasing the bar. 

Sadly, the original location of Sam's Tavern and later the first Red Robin, on the corner of Furhman and Eastlake Avenues, fell into disrepair and closed in 2010. It was demolished on August 28, 2014.

Red Robin holds its burger ingredients to very strict standards; the beef is always fresh and never frozen, all-natural, domestic, and free of preservatives and added ingredients; and the produce is GMO-free.

On Red Robin's website, you can customize your order using an interactive allergen menu that lets you select the ingredients you want to avoid, including milk, eggs, gluten, wheat, peanuts, and soy. 

If you'd prefer a healthier alternative, today you can also order bottomless sweet potato fries, steamed broccoli, coleslaw, or side salads. 

None other than Drew and Jonathan Scott, the stars of HGTV's Property Brothers, used to work at Red Robin. According to a tweet by Drew, they were busboys at the restaurant back in 1993, when they were both 16. 

Ten cents of every Freckled Lemonade sold are donated to the charity Alex's Lemonade Stand. 

If you sign up for its rewards program, you'll receive perks including a free burger during your birthday month, every 10th item for free, $20 towards your sixth visit when you visit five times in the first five weeks of your membership, and special offers and deals.