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

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

含羞草研究社淥ur office, at 12 p.m., we would line up. All about 40 employees,含羞草研究社� said Langeslag.

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

含羞草研究社淲e just moved back from Abbotsford four weeks ago. Then I said to my husband, let含羞草研究社檚 go to Baron Burger,含羞草研究社� she said.

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

含羞草研究社淚t reminds me of my younger days. I feel like I含羞草研究社檓 30 years old,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淭his is my favourite fast-food restaurant. This is my favourite.含羞草研究社�

READ MORE: The Baron is back, and it含羞草研究社檚 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.

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

含羞草研究社淧eople have high expectations. But now that we含羞草研究社檝e stabilized, it makes it even more fun to work knowing how people feel about this place.含羞草研究社�

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

含羞草研究社淲e have such a community here. Everybody feels like they含羞草研究社檙e part owner and part of the Burger Baron. That含羞草研究社檚 what makes it exciting,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淭hey含羞草研究社檝e been here longer than me 含羞草研究社� longer than all of us 含羞草研究社� They feel like they含羞草研究社檙e part of the owner or the success of the Burger Baron.含羞草研究社�

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

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檝e worked in a lot of restaurants, and this one makes you feel good. When you come in, it含羞草研究社檚 up and it含羞草研究社檚 happy. Hearing staff laugh in the back, you know it含羞草研究社檚 a good place,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檒l dance and tell jokes. It含羞草研究社檚 a real family restaurant.含羞草研究社�

Harley含羞草研究社檚 colleague, Pamela Butcher, has worked at the restaurant for five years, and she echoed both Morris含羞草研究社檚 and Harley含羞草研究社檚 sentiments.

含羞草研究社淭o feel everyone and have a family, it含羞草研究社檚 good to have that same environment when you go to work. It含羞草研究社檚 cool that we含羞草研究社檙e one big bundled family,含羞草研究社� said Butcher.

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

含羞草研究社淚 know most of the customers by their name. It含羞草研究社檚 a really friendly thing,含羞草研究社� said Bassi.

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

含羞草研究社淧eople will not want to go their work because they don含羞草研究社檛 like working there,含羞草研究社� said Bassi. 含羞草研究社淏ut for me, they含羞草研究社檙e just my other family. I含羞草研究社檓 going there, have fun and then I come back home.含羞草研究社�

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

含羞草研究社淭his is kinda my baby. I put so much time and effort into this place, and I don含羞草研究社檛 wanna go do anything else,含羞草研究社� said Findlay.

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

含羞草研究社淭hey like our food and they like our company. They like our opinions,含羞草研究社� said Butcher. 含羞草研究社淚 ask them how their day is going and they含羞草研究社檙e like, 含羞草研究社楿gh.含羞草研究社� That含羞草研究社檚 why you含羞草研究社檙e here 含羞草研究社� you want a burger.含羞草研究社�

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

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 everything. By doing that, it kind of continues her legacy,含羞草研究社� said Morris. 含羞草研究社淪he含羞草研究社檚 here. Everybody here knew her and loved her. She含羞草研究社檚 with us.含羞草研究社�

Amanda was Findlay含羞草研究社檚 best friend, and Morris said the two were like brother and sister.

含羞草研究社淪he was part of this family too. It含羞草研究社檚 neat that she含羞草研究社檚 still here with us,含羞草研究社� she said.

She added that the family-driven approach in the workspace has been key to the restaurant含羞草研究社檚 success.

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

READ MORE: Burgers are back in Rutland

aaron.hemens@kelownacapnews.com
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