November 5, 2019
Free And Discounted Meals at Portland Burger
We care. And we want to put our care into action. There are specific days when specific people eat for free. There are also those that always receive a discount or even free food all the time.
Memorial Day
To honor the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military: family members of anyone who gave their life while serving our country will eat for free on Memorial Day. Family members include those who served alongside them during their service, their parents, siblings, spouse, children, grandchildren. Approaching Memorial Day, we will ask for people to share a photo of the loved one they lost (though this isn’t a requirement). To claim this free meal, we just ask you to tell us the name and branch of service of your loved one lost during military service. We humbly thank you for their service and sacrifice.
First Responder Day · October 28
All First Responders eat for free all day on October 28. First Responders are individuals who in the early stages of an incident are responsible for the protection and preservation of life, property, evidence, and the environment. Basically, they run in when everyone else is running out. We want to step up on this day and say, “Thank you. Thank you for being willing to put yourself in harm’s way for us. Thank you for risking your health and safety on our behalf.”
Police OfficerFirefighterEMTDoctorNurseParamedicTow trucker driver/operatorEmergency Medical ProfessionalFEMA OfficialHomeland SecurityMilitaryPublic Safety Official911 DispatcherCoronerCivil Air PatrolTransit PoliceUniversity Police
Veterans Day · November 11
All military eat for free all day on Veterans Day. Thank you for your service to our country.
Air ForceArmyCoast GuardMarine CorpsNavyNational GuardActive-duty Reserve & guard forcesVeterans and Retirees
Cancer (and similar) patients and their families
If you are undergoing treatment for cancer or a similar condition, we’d like to bless you with free meals during this time. We’ve been there in our own family. We were blessed by others during our journey and want to pay it forward. When you have to travel to Portland for treatment (as we did), we want to take a small amount of the burden off of you and feed your family. If you are drained by all that accompanies walking alongside a loved one through their journey, we are here for you in the form of lunch or dinner for you and your family, on us. Or if you are the patient, fighting this fight, we’d like to be a blessing to you; come, eat at Portland Burger when you’re able. We’ll take care of the cost. You’ve got enough going on otherwise. We’ve got the food and drink covered. And we’d like to connect with you and get to know you if only just a little bit. We’d also like to ask your permission to add you and your loved one to our prayers.
Military discount
All military receives a 10% discount all the time (Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, National Guard, active-duty Reserve & guard forces, Veterans and Retirees).
Downtown Portland security officers & Clean & Safe personnel discount
10% off for the security officers downtown and for the Clean & Safe agents that keep everything, well clean & safe in our area.
December 5, 2017
Portland Burger
The original name that we went with on this venture was “Rock and Roll Chili Pit”. That name is dear to us. It keeps Jimmy, our brother-in-law, with us in our dream, where it all began. We lost him to brain cancer in 2008. He was part of the dream of this restaurant. But truth be told; burgers are really our love. Our relationship began with burgers. You see, we; Mark and Robin, met at McDonald’s Hamburgers in October 1981. We became instant friends. We’ve worked together pretty much ever since then.
After our kids were raised we decided to take a chance and follow our dream of running a restaurant together. We, with another couple, opened our first burger restaurant in the Hollywood district of Portland, Oregon. We, Mark and Robin, developed the food, the system, & the environment alongside our adult children. Our business partners remained at their other jobs. We had regular business meetings regarding the finances and other businessy things. But it was us, our family, working the grill, the fryers, the counter, cash register, the lobby, opening and closing, the hiring, the customers, and the many wonderful relationships. We loved every aspect of it. We worked open to close, every day. We were tired. But we were building our dream.
When we opened our fifth location in downtown Portland, we brought on an additional business partner. Originally the shares were divided 50/50 between the two husbands of the couples. The third partner bought in at 6%, So the shares were 47/47/6. The additional partner was there to make us better in finances and expansion, his areas of strength. At least that was our reason for adding him. Turns out our business partners had other plans.
After we opened our eight location, we had a rough, difficult, and ugly separation from our business partners. The other 47% and 6% shareholders cast their vote to remove Mark from the board and then they fired him and his family from their employment positions. We found ourselves, with our family, outside of our dream. Our hearts were broken. It took about a year to get things in order and catch our breath, and “stop behaving like little whipped puppies” (Mark’s words). Once we did just that, we knew what we needed to do; open Rock and Roll Chili Pit.
Today, 8 months later, we find that we are focusing on two things in our restaurant: burgers and community. It’s clear to us where our hearts lie. Burgers are what we do. Portland is where we love to do it. It’s like the clouds have been lifted and the path is becoming clearer.
“Portland Burger”
We are changing our name to “Portland Burger”. We have no desire to go national, no need to prove anything. We just want to hang out with our family, our team, and everyone who comes to see us. We want to make burgers- great burgers.
We don’t need to be the best. Actually, we don’t believe the best burger exists. It’s so subjective. We just want to do what we do with love. And we want to do it right here, in Portland.
So, to be Portland Burger, we promise to make the best burgers we know how to make. We promise to use the best local ingredients whenever possible. We promise to support other local businesses. We promise to honor Portland by contributing to the things that matter to Portland with our time and resources. We promise to be our best selves while representing Portland to visitors. We will support local kids, teams, causes, and events.
We hope you’ll get to know us. We hope we’ll make you proud Portland.
Sincerely,
Portland Burger (Rock and Roll Chili Pit)
Mark, Robin, our family, our team
September 28, 2017
Top Jimmy; He’s the King
All proceeds from the “Top Jimmy Burger” will be donated to brain cancer research in Jimmy’s honor. We love you and miss you Jimmy.