Celebrate at Ivar’s with Clamtastic Birthday Specials: $1.13 Menu Items on March 20

SEATTLE– It’s that time of year again and the party is back! On Tuesday, March 20, hungry seafood fans can catch a “reel” deal at Ivar’s Seafood Bars and full-service restaurants in celebration of what would have been the o-fish-al 113th birthday of Ivar Haglund, the restaurants’ iconic flounder. Throughout the day, fans who purchase one regularly priced entrée and wish Ivar “Happy Birthday,” will receive a second entrée of their choice – from a special birthday menu – for just $1.13. In addition to the birthday discounts, Ivar’s will also treat the first 113 guests at each location to a celebratory pineapple coconut mini cupcake dessert made by Cakes of Paradise in Seattle.

Plus, fans can get in on the birthday action and strike a pose using the custom Ivar’s photo frame on Facebook. Beginning today, guests who are Facebook users can visit Ivars.com/birthday, select a link for one of two celebratory digital photo frames to take a photo with Facebook’s camera feature. Once the photo is taken, fans can immediately share on their Facebook page or with friends – and include hashtag #IvarsBDay – to be entered into a sweepstakes for a chance to win a $113 Ivar’s Gift Card. Fans can also ‘save’ the image – include hashtag #IvarsBDay – to enter via Twitter or Instagram too. The birthday contest begins March 12 and ends March 21. Additional rules and details will be available at Ivars.com.

Ivar Haglund began the popular restaurant chain bearing his name in 1938, when he opened a fish and chips stand at his aquarium, which was located on the Seattle Waterfront at Pier 3 (now Pier 54). He was well known for his popular radio ditties as well as his comical stunts such as clam eating contests, taking advantage of a train car syrup spill, and creating an Ivar’s clam postage stamp. He passed away in 1985 just shy of his 80th birthday. The history behind Ivar Haglund can be found on Ivar’s website.

The birthday bargain is available all day at any of the 21 Ivar’s Seafood Bars located throughout Washington state, excluding airport and stadium locations. Most Seafood Bars will have extended hours (10 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.) to accommodate the influx of hungry revelers, with hours varying by location. Ivar’s Acres of Clams on the Seattle waterfront, Ivar’s Salmon House on north Lake Union and Ivar’s Mukilteo Landing overlooking Possession Sound, are also putting on party hats to dish out the birthday deal.

Sample birthday menu items include: Fish ‘n Chips; Halibut ‘n Chips; Jumbo Prawns ‘n Chips; Sourdough Bread Bowl with Ivar’s would-famous clam chowder; Cedar Plank Roasted Alaska Sockeye Salmon; Salmon House Seafood Medley; Pier 54 Cioppino and Ivar’s Classic Dungeness Crab & Bay Shrimp Louie.

To view the special birthday menus and details on the participating locations, please visit: www.Ivars.com/birthday.

About Ivar Haglund: Ivar Johan Haglund was born to Swedish and Norwegian parents, Johan Ivar and Daisy Maud, in West Seattle in 1905. Performing came naturally to Ivar, and he was soon entertaining family friends by playing guitar and singing. In adulthood, Haglund took his knack for entertaining and folk songs to the Seattle waterfront and opened Seattle’s first aquarium in 1938. His first fish ‘n chips stand was an extension of his aquarium, giving hungry visitors a place to dine. Since then, he created a legacy of quality seafood restaurants throughout the Northwest, with chowders and sauces sold as far away as Mexico and Japan. Always devising new attention-getting capers, Ivar staged a number of famous pranks and masterminded numerous stunts in his time including octopus wrestling on the Seattle waterfront and strolling to Frederick and Nelson’s department store with Patsy the seal from the aquarium. Haglund was a regular on KJR and KIRO radio stations, as well as the JP Patches children’s television program. Ivar passed away in 1985, just shy of his 80th birthday, but his Northwest dining legacy lives on in his beloved recipes and seafood restaurants.

About Ivar’s: Ivar’s Restaurants opened on Seattle’s waterfront in 1938. Today, there are 21 Ivar’s fast casual Seafood Bars and three full-service restaurants: Ivar’s Acres of Clams, Ivar’s Salmon House and Ivar’s Mukilteo Landing. Ivar’s Seafood, Soup and Sauce Company markets and sells its award-winning soups, chowders and sauces nationally and internationally. The company also operates regional stadium concessions including Safeco Field, CenturyLink Field, Husky Stadium and Cheney Stadium. Learn more at www.Ivars.com or Follow Ivar’s on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

– Ivar’s