Burger Baron
TypeIndependent
IndustryRestaurants
FoundedCalgary or Lethbridge, Alberta, 1957 (1957)
ProductsFast food (hamburgers, donairs, pizza)

The Burger Baron name is used by several fast-food restaurants in western Canada.[1]

History

Burger Baron Logo

Founded in 1957 in either Calgary or Lethbridge, Alberta (the location and ownership of the first site is disputed), Burger Baron was the first drive-in chain in Western Canada.[2][3] The company expanded quickly throughout the region but suffered when the big American chains began to move to the area. The original franchise operation collapsed into bankruptcy and current restaurants are independently operated, with different menus, recipes, signage and advertising.[2] Today, there are still dozens of Burger Barons throughout Western Canada, but they are mostly concentrated around Edmonton and in small towns in Alberta.[2] Many of the owners are Lebanese Canadians, connected to Rudy Kemaldean of Edmonton, who bought the first of his seven restaurants in 1965, hired family and friends and encouraged them to open their own operations under the Burger Baron name. [4]

Among other things, Burger Baron is famous for being endorsed by former Edmonton Oilers hockey coach Glen Sather and other former members of the Edmonton Oilers.

Several Burger Baron buildings formerly belonged to other chains. Five of them were part of the local Burger King chain, once Burger Baron's main rival, which became defunct when the worldwide Burger King company acquired the rights to the name for northern Alberta in 1995. The local Burger King chain had previously held franchising rights to Kentucky Fried Chicken, and had buildings in the then-standard KFC design. The Burger Baron on 111 Avenue 95 Street used to be owned by Wes Kemaldean formerly housed the Burger King headquarters along with a Burger King/Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet.

An attempt in the 1980s to return to a franchise system ended when independent owners were unable to reach agreement. A legal dispute over the trademark between family members of early owners was settled in the 1990s.[4]

Products

Burger Baron's typically provide multiple variations of burgers, such as a "Salisbury Burger", and the "Pizza Burger".[5] The mushroom burger is Burger Baron's most popular.[2] In recent years one of the chain's main features has been Halifax-style donairs, available only in certain locations.[3]

Locations

See also

References

  1. ↑ Certo, S.C.; Owen, F.A.; Sales, C.A. (1998). Modern Management in Canada: Diversity, Quality, Ethics, and the Global Environment. Pearson Education Canada. p. 28. ISBN 978-0-13-803818-2. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Mouallem, Omar (May 2, 2013). "Will The Real Burger Baron Please Stand Up?". The Calgary Herald. Archived from the original on 2013-05-06. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Edmonton Plus.ca". Retrieved 2008-01-17.
  4. 1 2 "How a McDonald's Knockoff Became the Immigrant Dream". 15 October 2021. Retrieved 2022-05-15.
  5. ↑ Chalifoux, Jason. "Fast Food With History". Boyle McCauley News. Retrieved December 27, 2017.

Further reading

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