Today, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers is a nationwide beer and burgers chain with a hometown restaurant feel. But as with most nationwide chains, many are probably unaware of the restaurant’s origins. And surely, even more do not realize that the original Red Robin began with a little old house that still stands tucked away next to the University Bridge, a stone’s throw from The University of Washington in Seattle.

The Red Robin story begins from that location on Furman and Eastlake Avenue in the same little house that in 1940 was known as Sam’s Tavern. Catering to the university crowd, “Sam” eventually changed the name of his little establishment in1969 to Red Robin as an homage to one of his favorite barbershop quartet lyrics, “When the red, red robin goes bob, bob, bobbin’ along.” Since then the restaurant has changed ownership, gone national, and evolved into the colossal burger bar theme that we all know and love. From Washington to New Jersey, Florida to California, Red Robin is an American institution and multi-million dollar commodity with its own Nasdaq stock symbol: RRGB.

My lone experience with the franchise occurred at the original location during the nine months I lived in Seattle during 2001. I recall enjoying a brew and some fish and chips with my British buddy, Dave Milner after a long run through the city. I also recall thinking I’d be back to Red Robin again some day to enjoy one of their famous burgers. But with one thing leading to another, I quickly found myself once again living in Boston with nary a Red Robin in sight.

However, lo and behold, the pendulum has swung once more and I returned to Seattle in 2007 again hankering for a tasty burger fix. So wouldn’t you know it, with my colossal burger desire reaching a fevered pitch in 2010, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. has announced that the original location will be shutting its doors on March 21st, prohibitive maintenance costs the reason.

In honor of this sad yet monumental closing, I took the opportunity to revisit Red Robin #1 on Saturday for the first time since 2001. And as an added treat I brought along my 3 week old daughter, Siena for her restaurant debut. As the goofy Semisonic song Closing Time reminds us, “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.”

So here’s to you, Red Robin #1. Thanks for the memories and being a part of little Siena’s maiden voyage into a larger, more exciting world.