Every Monday for 16 years, Flore Langeslag would make a trip to Burger Baron Kelowna to indulge in the burger joint91Ƶs iconic mushroom swiss burger.
The 78-year-old got her first taste of Burger Baron in 1970 at the Lethbridge, Alta., joint 91Ƶ one of the restaurant91Ƶs original locations.
91ƵOur office, at 12 p.m., we would line up. All about 40 employees,91Ƶ said Langeslag.
When she moved to Kelowna 28 years ago, she was surprised to discover that the town was home to a Burger Baron 91Ƶ the only one in the province at the time. However, for the last four years, Langeslag lived in Abbotsford and was forced to live without the quench that comes with every bite of a juicy Burger Baron burger.
91ƵWe just moved back from Abbotsford four weeks ago. Then I said to my husband, let91Ƶs go to Baron Burger,91Ƶ she said.
Not only is she happy to be reunited with the simplicity, quantity, textures and prices of the burger shop91Ƶs meals, but she said that she91Ƶs excited to be back in the restaurant91Ƶs retro, cozy and homey environment.
91ƵIt reminds me of my younger days. I feel like I91Ƶm 30 years old,91Ƶ she said. 91ƵThis is my favourite fast-food restaurant. This is my favourite.91Ƶ
READ MORE: The Baron is back, and it91Ƶs booming
Langeslag belongs to just one of the many generations of people in Kelowna who have fallen in love with the establishment since it became a staple in town when it opened more than 60 years ago.
91ƵIn the beginning, you really felt like you had to live up to it,91Ƶ said Karrin Morris, who took over ownership of Kelowna91Ƶs Burger Baron five years ago.
91ƵPeople have high expectations. But now that we91Ƶve stabilized, it makes it even more fun to work knowing how people feel about this place.91Ƶ
She added that the fast-food restaurant, located at 140 Rutland Rd. N, is more than just a place that sells burgers, fries, donairs, milkshakes and everything in between 91Ƶ the Burger Baron team is a family of 11, and the customers are an extension of that family.
91ƵWe have such a community here. Everybody feels like they91Ƶre part owner and part of the Burger Baron. That91Ƶs what makes it exciting,91Ƶ she said. 91ƵThey91Ƶve been here longer than me 91Ƶ longer than all of us 91Ƶ They feel like they91Ƶre part of the owner or the success of the Burger Baron.91Ƶ
Fay Harley has been working at the Kelowna location since 1999, and she said she plans on staying with the restaurant until retirement.
91ƵI91Ƶve worked in a lot of restaurants, and this one makes you feel good. When you come in, it91Ƶs up and it91Ƶs happy. Hearing staff laugh in the back, you know it91Ƶs a good place,91Ƶ she said. 91ƵWe91Ƶll dance and tell jokes. It91Ƶs a real family restaurant.91Ƶ
Harley91Ƶs colleague, Pamela Butcher, has worked at the restaurant for five years, and she echoed both Morris91Ƶs and Harley91Ƶs sentiments.
91ƵTo feel everyone and have a family, it91Ƶs good to have that same environment when you go to work. It91Ƶs cool that we91Ƶre one big bundled family,91Ƶ said Butcher.
Amandip Bassi91Ƶs first job since coming to Kelowna from India in 2016 was at Burger Baron, and she91Ƶs remained at the restaurant ever since.
91ƵI know most of the customers by their name. It91Ƶs a really friendly thing,91Ƶ said Bassi.
She added that she91Ƶs never once thought about quitting her job, with the reason being her co-workers and Morris, who she said treats her like a daughter.
91ƵPeople will not want to go their work because they don91Ƶt like working there,91Ƶ said Bassi. 91ƵBut for me, they91Ƶre just my other family. I91Ƶm going there, have fun and then I come back home.91Ƶ
Manager Lucas Findlay has been with the restaurant for just under seven years, and he said he couldn91Ƶt picture a life without Burger Baron.
91ƵThis is kinda my baby. I put so much time and effort into this place, and I don91Ƶt wanna go do anything else,91Ƶ said Findlay.
He estimates that there are around 50 regulars who frequent the restaurant every week, while Butcher placed that number closer to 100.
91ƵThey like our food and they like our company. They like our opinions,91Ƶ said Butcher. 91ƵI ask them how their day is going and they91Ƶre like, 91ƵUgh.91Ƶ That91Ƶs why you91Ƶre here 91Ƶ you want a burger.91Ƶ
Recently, the restaurant added Amanda91Ƶs Spicy Chicken Burger to their menu in honour of Morris91Ƶs late daughter Amanda. She worked at the restaurant for over a year before she died a year and a half ago.
91ƵIt91Ƶs everything. By doing that, it kind of continues her legacy,91Ƶ said Morris. 91ƵShe91Ƶs here. Everybody here knew her and loved her. She91Ƶs with us.91Ƶ
Amanda was Findlay91Ƶs best friend, and Morris said the two were like brother and sister.
91ƵShe was part of this family too. It91Ƶs neat that she91Ƶs still here with us,91Ƶ she said.
She added that the family-driven approach in the workspace has been key to the restaurant91Ƶs success.
91ƵMy success is my team. If they don91Ƶt love their job, it wouldn91Ƶt be a success, right?91Ƶ she said. 91ƵIt all comes from their heart, as well as mine. So I give back. I give back to my team. Without them, I wouldn91Ƶt be successful.91Ƶ
READ MORE: Burgers are back in Rutland
aaron.hemens@kelownacapnews.com
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