By Matthew Abrey

It was pretty much beyond repair. It probably hadn含羞草研究社檛 had a facelift since the early 1980s and the food wasn含羞草研究社檛 as good as it once was.

It seemed like Rutland含羞草研究社檚 Burger Baron, a once-iconic Kelowna eating institution, was resigned to its fate of fading into the history books.

That was, until Karrin Morris and Mounsef 含羞草研究社淢oose含羞草研究社� Mounsef bought the formerly great Burger Baron in the fall of 2016, with the intention of restoring the classic burger joint to its former glory.

含羞草研究社淎 lot of work had to be done,含羞草研究社� said Morris. 含羞草研究社淚t was in a pretty rough state, and basically in disrepair.含羞草研究社�

The pair spent many hours and dollars ripping out old and decaying appliances, wiping away decades of dirt and grime, and applying more than a few coats of paint.

All the work seems to be paying off.

含羞草研究社淭he public reaction has been phenomenal,含羞草研究社� said Morris.

含羞草研究社淲e opened in February of last year, and people are just so happy, and they含羞草研究社檙e saying 含羞草研究社榦h my goodness, we含羞草研究社檙e so glad you didn含羞草研究社檛 shut this down,含羞草研究社� because in Kelowna, it含羞草研究社檚 been an icon for a long time. One family came in, and they just couldn含羞草研究社檛 wait to tell us that they were a fifth generation family coming here to the Burger Baron.含羞草研究社�

Morris and Mounsef pride themselves on using quality ingredients, while keeping the prices notoriously low. The meat for the hamburger patties is purchased locally, and all the produce is bought from local farms and vendors. Burger Baron also makes its famous milkshakes with real fruit and real cream, which comes from Foothills Creamery.

And while all these aspects are important to the pair, the one thing that makes the business venture so meaningful to Morris and Mounsef is the history and stories that walk through the door every day.

含羞草研究社淥ne gentleman who was probably in his seventies came in just the other day, and told us that his wife had worked at the Burger Baron when she was sixteen, and she含羞草研究社檚 in her sixties now,含羞草研究社� said Morris.

含羞草研究社淎nother time, two older ladies were sitting back to back to each other at different booths, and one was telling me that she had worked at the Burger Baron in the sixties and seventies when she was younger, and the other lady turned around and said 含羞草研究社榟ey I worked there during those years含羞草研究社�. They instantly recognized each other, and it turns out that they were old friends who hadn含羞草研究社檛 seen each other in over 40 years, so it含羞草研究社檚 just surreal to hear all these stories.含羞草研究社�

The Burger Baron has operated in the building near Rutland Road and Highway 33 since 1979.

含羞草研究社淚 love coming into work every day,含羞草研究社� says Morris. 含羞草研究社淚 would never have thought that in my semi-retirement, I would be flipping burgers and whipping up milkshakes, but I just love my job.含羞草研究社�

Burger Baron is located at 140 Rutland Rd. N., and despite the small building, boasts a 50-seat diner and an increasingly busy drive-thru.

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