Burger Baron facts for kids
Burger Baron sign
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| Independent | |
| Industry | Restaurants |
| Founded | Calgary or Lethbridge, Alberta, 1957 |
| Products | Fast food (hamburgers, donairs, pizza) |
The Burger Baron is a name used by many fast-food restaurants in western Canada. These places are known for their tasty burgers and other quick meals. Even though they share a name, many Burger Baron restaurants are owned and run by different people, so their menus can be a bit different!
The Story of Burger Baron
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Burger Baron started way back in 1957. It began in either Calgary or Lethbridge, Alberta. It was the very first "drive-in" restaurant chain in Western Canada. A drive-in is a place where you can order and eat your food right in your car!
The company grew fast across the region. But then, bigger American fast-food chains started to open up. This made things tough for Burger Baron. The original company eventually went out of business.
Today, the Burger Baron restaurants are all run by different owners. This means each one might have its own special recipes or menu items. You can still find many Burger Barons across Western Canada. Most of them are near Edmonton and in smaller towns in Alberta.
Many of the owners are Lebanese Canadians. This is partly thanks to Rudy Kemaldean from Edmonton. He bought his first Burger Baron in 1965. He then hired family and friends. He also encouraged them to open their own Burger Baron restaurants.
Did you know that famous hockey coach Glen Sather used to support Burger Baron? He was the coach for the Edmonton Oilers. Other former Oilers players also liked Burger Baron!
Some Burger Baron buildings used to be other restaurants. Five of them were once part of a local chain called Burger King (not the big worldwide one!). This local Burger King was a main competitor to Burger Baron. The local Burger King also used to have Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants. So, some Burger Barons might even look like old KFC buildings!
In the 1980s, there was an attempt to bring all the Burger Barons back together. They tried to create one big franchise system again. But the independent owners could not agree, so it did not happen.
What They Sell
Burger Baron restaurants offer many kinds of burgers. Some unique ones include the "Salisbury Burger" and the "Pizza Burger." The mushroom burger is often the most popular choice.
In recent years, some Burger Baron locations also sell Halifax-style donairs. A donair is a tasty wrap with spiced meat, often served with a sweet garlic sauce. Not all locations have them, so you might need to check!
Where to Find Them
See also
- List of hamburger restaurants
