Every Monday for 16 years, Flore Langeslag would make a trip to Burger Baron 琉璃神社 to indulge in the burger joint鈥檚 iconic mushroom swiss burger.

The 78-year-old got her first taste of Burger Baron in 1970 at the Lethbridge, Alta., joint 鈥� one of the restaurant鈥檚 original locations.

鈥淥ur office, at 12 p.m., we would line up. All about 40 employees,鈥� said Langeslag.

When she moved to 琉璃神社 28 years ago, she was surprised to discover that the town was home to a Burger Baron 鈥� 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.

鈥淲e just moved back from Abbotsford four weeks ago. Then I said to my husband, let鈥檚 go to Baron Burger,鈥� she said.

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

鈥淚t reminds me of my younger days. I feel like I鈥檓 30 years old,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his is my favourite fast-food restaurant. This is my favourite.鈥�

READ MORE: The Baron is back, and it鈥檚 booming

Langeslag belongs to just one of the many generations of people in 琉璃神社 who have fallen in love with the establishment since it became a staple in town when it opened more than 60 years ago.

鈥淚n the beginning, you really felt like you had to live up to it,鈥� said Karrin Morris, who took over ownership of 琉璃神社鈥檚 Burger Baron five years ago.

鈥淧eople have high expectations. But now that we鈥檝e stabilized, it makes it even more fun to work knowing how people feel about this place.鈥�

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 鈥� the Burger Baron team is a family of 11, and the customers are an extension of that family.

鈥淲e have such a community here. Everybody feels like they鈥檙e part owner and part of the Burger Baron. That鈥檚 what makes it exciting,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e been here longer than me 鈥� longer than all of us 鈥� They feel like they鈥檙e part of the owner or the success of the Burger Baron.鈥�

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

鈥淚鈥檝e worked in a lot of restaurants, and this one makes you feel good. When you come in, it鈥檚 up and it鈥檚 happy. Hearing staff laugh in the back, you know it鈥檚 a good place,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e鈥檒l dance and tell jokes. It鈥檚 a real family restaurant.鈥�

Harley鈥檚 colleague, Pamela Butcher, has worked at the restaurant for five years, and she echoed both Morris鈥檚 and Harley鈥檚 sentiments.

鈥淭o feel everyone and have a family, it鈥檚 good to have that same environment when you go to work. It鈥檚 cool that we鈥檙e one big bundled family,鈥� said Butcher.

Amandip Bassi鈥檚 first job since coming to 琉璃神社 from India in 2016 was at Burger Baron, and she鈥檚 remained at the restaurant ever since.

鈥淚 know most of the customers by their name. It鈥檚 a really friendly thing,鈥� said Bassi.

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

鈥淧eople will not want to go their work because they don鈥檛 like working there,鈥� said Bassi. 鈥淏ut for me, they鈥檙e just my other family. I鈥檓 going there, have fun and then I come back home.鈥�

Manager Lucas Findlay has been with the restaurant for just under seven years, and he said he couldn鈥檛 picture a life without Burger Baron.

鈥淭his is kinda my baby. I put so much time and effort into this place, and I don鈥檛 wanna go do anything else,鈥� said Findlay.

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

鈥淭hey like our food and they like our company. They like our opinions,鈥� said Butcher. 鈥淚 ask them how their day is going and they鈥檙e like, 鈥楿gh.鈥� That鈥檚 why you鈥檙e here 鈥� you want a burger.鈥�

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

鈥淚t鈥檚 everything. By doing that, it kind of continues her legacy,鈥� said Morris. 鈥淪he鈥檚 here. Everybody here knew her and loved her. She鈥檚 with us.鈥�

Amanda was Findlay鈥檚 best friend, and Morris said the two were like brother and sister.

鈥淪he was part of this family too. It鈥檚 neat that she鈥檚 still here with us,鈥� she said.

She added that the family-driven approach in the workspace has been key to the restaurant鈥檚 success.

鈥淢y success is my team. If they don鈥檛 love their job, it wouldn鈥檛 be a success, right?鈥� she said. 鈥淚t all comes from their heart, as well as mine. So I give back. I give back to my team. Without them, I wouldn鈥檛 be successful.鈥�

READ MORE: Burgers are back in Rutland

aaron.hemens@kelownacapnews.com
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