Every Monday for 16 years, Flore Langeslag would make a trip to Burger Baron Kelowna to indulge in the burger jointsa国际传媒檚 iconic mushroom swiss burger.

The 78-year-old got her first taste of Burger Baron in 1970 at the Lethbridge, Alta., joint sa国际传媒� one of the restaurantsa国际传媒檚 original locations.

sa国际传媒淥ur office, at 12 p.m., we would line up. All about 40 employees,sa国际传媒� said Langeslag.

When she moved to Kelowna 28 years ago, she was surprised to discover that the town was home to a Burger Baron sa国际传媒� 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.

sa国际传媒淲e just moved back from Abbotsford four weeks ago. Then I said to my husband, letsa国际传媒檚 go to Baron Burger,sa国际传媒� she said.

Not only is she happy to be reunited with the simplicity, quantity, textures and prices of the burger shopsa国际传媒檚 meals, but she said that shesa国际传媒檚 excited to be back in the restaurantsa国际传媒檚 retro, cozy and homey environment.

sa国际传媒淚t reminds me of my younger days. I feel like Isa国际传媒檓 30 years old,sa国际传媒� she said. sa国际传媒淭his is my favourite fast-food restaurant. This is my favourite.sa国际传媒�

READ MORE: The Baron is back, and itsa国际传媒檚 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.

sa国际传媒淚n the beginning, you really felt like you had to live up to it,sa国际传媒� said Karrin Morris, who took over ownership of Kelownasa国际传媒檚 Burger Baron five years ago.

sa国际传媒淧eople have high expectations. But now that wesa国际传媒檝e stabilized, it makes it even more fun to work knowing how people feel about this place.sa国际传媒�

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 sa国际传媒� the Burger Baron team is a family of 11, and the customers are an extension of that family.

sa国际传媒淲e have such a community here. Everybody feels like theysa国际传媒檙e part owner and part of the Burger Baron. Thatsa国际传媒檚 what makes it exciting,sa国际传媒� she said. sa国际传媒淭heysa国际传媒檝e been here longer than me sa国际传媒� longer than all of us sa国际传媒� They feel like theysa国际传媒檙e part of the owner or the success of the Burger Baron.sa国际传媒�

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

sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檝e worked in a lot of restaurants, and this one makes you feel good. When you come in, itsa国际传媒檚 up and itsa国际传媒檚 happy. Hearing staff laugh in the back, you know itsa国际传媒檚 a good place,sa国际传媒� she said. sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檒l dance and tell jokes. Itsa国际传媒檚 a real family restaurant.sa国际传媒�

Harleysa国际传媒檚 colleague, Pamela Butcher, has worked at the restaurant for five years, and she echoed both Morrissa国际传媒檚 and Harleysa国际传媒檚 sentiments.

sa国际传媒淭o feel everyone and have a family, itsa国际传媒檚 good to have that same environment when you go to work. Itsa国际传媒檚 cool that wesa国际传媒檙e one big bundled family,sa国际传媒� said Butcher.

Amandip Bassisa国际传媒檚 first job since coming to Kelowna from India in 2016 was at Burger Baron, and shesa国际传媒檚 remained at the restaurant ever since.

sa国际传媒淚 know most of the customers by their name. Itsa国际传媒檚 a really friendly thing,sa国际传媒� said Bassi.

She added that shesa国际传媒檚 never once thought about quitting her job, with the reason being her co-workers and Morris, who she said treats her like a daughter.

sa国际传媒淧eople will not want to go their work because they donsa国际传媒檛 like working there,sa国际传媒� said Bassi. sa国际传媒淏ut for me, theysa国际传媒檙e just my other family. Isa国际传媒檓 going there, have fun and then I come back home.sa国际传媒�

Manager Lucas Findlay has been with the restaurant for just under seven years, and he said he couldnsa国际传媒檛 picture a life without Burger Baron.

sa国际传媒淭his is kinda my baby. I put so much time and effort into this place, and I donsa国际传媒檛 wanna go do anything else,sa国际传媒� said Findlay.

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

sa国际传媒淭hey like our food and they like our company. They like our opinions,sa国际传媒� said Butcher. sa国际传媒淚 ask them how their day is going and theysa国际传媒檙e like, sa国际传媒楿gh.sa国际传媒� Thatsa国际传媒檚 why yousa国际传媒檙e here sa国际传媒� you want a burger.sa国际传媒�

Recently, the restaurant added Amandasa国际传媒檚 Spicy Chicken Burger to their menu in honour of Morrissa国际传媒檚 late daughter Amanda. She worked at the restaurant for over a year before she died a year and a half ago.

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 everything. By doing that, it kind of continues her legacy,sa国际传媒� said Morris. sa国际传媒淪hesa国际传媒檚 here. Everybody here knew her and loved her. Shesa国际传媒檚 with us.sa国际传媒�

Amanda was Findlaysa国际传媒檚 best friend, and Morris said the two were like brother and sister.

sa国际传媒淪he was part of this family too. Itsa国际传媒檚 neat that shesa国际传媒檚 still here with us,sa国际传媒� she said.

She added that the family-driven approach in the workspace has been key to the restaurantsa国际传媒檚 success.

sa国际传媒淢y success is my team. If they donsa国际传媒檛 love their job, it wouldnsa国际传媒檛 be a success, right?sa国际传媒� she said. sa国际传媒淚t all comes from their heart, as well as mine. So I give back. I give back to my team. Without them, I wouldnsa国际传媒檛 be successful.sa国际传媒�

READ MORE: Burgers are back in Rutland

aaron.hemens@kelownacapnews.com
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