Red Robin hiring 142

‘Gourmet burger’ chain opening Scarborough store in late March

SCARBOROUGH — Burger fans have been salivating for more than a year, ever since Red Robin Gourmet Burgers signed a lease with KGI Properties for a 6,000-square-foot space at 800 Gallery Boulevard in Scarborough. Now, the popular eatery is prepping to open in late March, and here’s the really good news – they’re hiring for 142 positions.

“We’re looking for team members who are passionate about burgers and who can deliver superior service to our guests,” said General Manager Claude Hadjaissa, who arrives in town this week from Red Robin’s Augusta location to begin taking applications.

Officially founded in 1969 when Seattle restaurant entrepreneur Gerry Kingen bought Sam’s Red Robin – which began in the mid-1940s as Sam’s Tavern, near the University of Washington – the company went public in 2002 and now has 465 locations in 42 states, and Canada. Its first Maine branch opened in Augusta six years ago under Hadjaissa’s leadership.

Both Maine locations are corporate owned. Only about one-third of the Red Robin restaurants are franchises.

Winter said applications are being taken at the new Scarborough location, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Anyone interested in a position with the company can also go online to the “careers” section of www.redrobin.com.