Every Monday for 16 years, Flore Langeslag would make a trip to Burger Baron Kelowna to indulge in the burger joint害羞草研究所檚 iconic mushroom swiss burger.

The 78-year-old got her first taste of Burger Baron in 1970 at the Lethbridge, Alta., joint 害羞草研究所� one of the restaurant害羞草研究所檚 original locations.

害羞草研究所淥ur office, at 12 p.m., we would line up. All about 40 employees,害羞草研究所� said Langeslag.

When she moved to Kelowna 28 years ago, she was surprised to discover that the town was home to a Burger Baron 害羞草研究所� 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.

害羞草研究所淲e just moved back from Abbotsford four weeks ago. Then I said to my husband, let害羞草研究所檚 go to Baron Burger,害羞草研究所� she said.

Not only is she happy to be reunited with the simplicity, quantity, textures and prices of the burger shop害羞草研究所檚 meals, but she said that she害羞草研究所檚 excited to be back in the restaurant害羞草研究所檚 retro, cozy and homey environment.

害羞草研究所淚t reminds me of my younger days. I feel like I害羞草研究所檓 30 years old,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淭his is my favourite fast-food restaurant. This is my favourite.害羞草研究所�

READ MORE: The Baron is back, and it害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淚n the beginning, you really felt like you had to live up to it,害羞草研究所� said Karrin Morris, who took over ownership of Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 Burger Baron five years ago.

害羞草研究所淧eople have high expectations. But now that we害羞草研究所檝e stabilized, it makes it even more fun to work knowing how people feel about this place.害羞草研究所�

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 害羞草研究所� the Burger Baron team is a family of 11, and the customers are an extension of that family.

害羞草研究所淲e have such a community here. Everybody feels like they害羞草研究所檙e part owner and part of the Burger Baron. That害羞草研究所檚 what makes it exciting,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檝e been here longer than me 害羞草研究所� longer than all of us 害羞草研究所� They feel like they害羞草研究所檙e part of the owner or the success of the Burger Baron.害羞草研究所�

Fay Harley has been working at the Kelowna location since 1999, and she said she plans on staying with the restaurant until retirement.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e worked in a lot of restaurants, and this one makes you feel good. When you come in, it害羞草研究所檚 up and it害羞草研究所檚 happy. Hearing staff laugh in the back, you know it害羞草研究所檚 a good place,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檒l dance and tell jokes. It害羞草研究所檚 a real family restaurant.害羞草研究所�

Harley害羞草研究所檚 colleague, Pamela Butcher, has worked at the restaurant for five years, and she echoed both Morris害羞草研究所檚 and Harley害羞草研究所檚 sentiments.

害羞草研究所淭o feel everyone and have a family, it害羞草研究所檚 good to have that same environment when you go to work. It害羞草研究所檚 cool that we害羞草研究所檙e one big bundled family,害羞草研究所� said Butcher.

Amandip Bassi害羞草研究所檚 first job since coming to Kelowna from India in 2016 was at Burger Baron, and she害羞草研究所檚 remained at the restaurant ever since.

害羞草研究所淚 know most of the customers by their name. It害羞草研究所檚 a really friendly thing,害羞草研究所� said Bassi.

She added that she害羞草研究所檚 never once thought about quitting her job, with the reason being her co-workers and Morris, who she said treats her like a daughter.

害羞草研究所淧eople will not want to go their work because they don害羞草研究所檛 like working there,害羞草研究所� said Bassi. 害羞草研究所淏ut for me, they害羞草研究所檙e just my other family. I害羞草研究所檓 going there, have fun and then I come back home.害羞草研究所�

Manager Lucas Findlay has been with the restaurant for just under seven years, and he said he couldn害羞草研究所檛 picture a life without Burger Baron.

害羞草研究所淭his is kinda my baby. I put so much time and effort into this place, and I don害羞草研究所檛 wanna go do anything else,害羞草研究所� said Findlay.

He estimates that there are around 50 regulars who frequent the restaurant every week, while Butcher placed that number closer to 100.

害羞草研究所淭hey like our food and they like our company. They like our opinions,害羞草研究所� said Butcher. 害羞草研究所淚 ask them how their day is going and they害羞草研究所檙e like, 害羞草研究所楿gh.害羞草研究所� That害羞草研究所檚 why you害羞草研究所檙e here 害羞草研究所� you want a burger.害羞草研究所�

Recently, the restaurant added Amanda害羞草研究所檚 Spicy Chicken Burger to their menu in honour of Morris害羞草研究所檚 late daughter Amanda. She worked at the restaurant for over a year before she died a year and a half ago.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 everything. By doing that, it kind of continues her legacy,害羞草研究所� said Morris. 害羞草研究所淪he害羞草研究所檚 here. Everybody here knew her and loved her. She害羞草研究所檚 with us.害羞草研究所�

Amanda was Findlay害羞草研究所檚 best friend, and Morris said the two were like brother and sister.

害羞草研究所淪he was part of this family too. It害羞草研究所檚 neat that she害羞草研究所檚 still here with us,害羞草研究所� she said.

She added that the family-driven approach in the workspace has been key to the restaurant害羞草研究所檚 success.

害羞草研究所淢y success is my team. If they don害羞草研究所檛 love their job, it wouldn害羞草研究所檛 be a success, right?害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚t all comes from their heart, as well as mine. So I give back. I give back to my team. Without them, I wouldn害羞草研究所檛 be successful.害羞草研究所�

READ MORE: Burgers are back in Rutland

aaron.hemens@kelownacapnews.com
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