[9] The first Red Robin was located at the corner of Furhman and Eastlake Avenues E. in Seattle, at the southern end of the University Bridge.

[12][13] Kingen continued to operate the location as a tavern for a few years, but later added hamburgers to the menu, eventually giving fans 28 different burgers to choose from, and sales increased.

After ten years of building the Red Robin concept, Kingen decided to franchise it,[14] which proved to be significant in the development of the chain.

With marginal successes and poor financial performance under Skylark's management, Kingen, then a minority owner, in 1995 stepped back into Red Robin with Michael Snyder.

In 2005, Snyder was ousted as CEO after allegations of fraud, which led to a SEC investigation and settlement and shareholders' lawsuit.

[26] In September 2019, Paul J.B. Murphy III was appointed president, Chief Executive Officer, and a member of the company's board of directors, effective October 3, 2019.

[27] The following month, the company announced plans to close its five locations in Alberta, Canada in the Edmonton area by early December.