Reopening of historic Burger King location sparks fond memories for former Windsor employee
When Mary Ann Andrejicka worked at Burger King in the 1960s, a Whopper cost 69 cents.
“$1.10 an hour was our starting pay. The females had to wear the uniform dresses,” Andrejicka recalled.
Windsor is home to Canada’s first Burger King. The historic location at 2850 Tecumseh Road East first opened its doors in September 1969.
“They didn't really promote that this is the first Burger King in Canada. So we were really naive to that fact,” said Andrejicka.
Mary Ann Andrejicka recalls her experience working at the first Burger King in Canada in Windsor, Ont. on Monday, Dec. 5, 2022. (Sijia Liu/CTV News Windsor)She recalls managers of the original location running a tight ship.
“It had be spotless,” she said. “They would get down on their hands and knees with a knife and scrape the tile floor.”
Back in the day, employees worked without the help of high tech machinery.
“You would punch in the order and then most of the time you are calculating the whole bill by adding it up yourself. The most dangerous piece of equipment in that building was the tomato slicer,” said Andrejicka.
Located next to the Windsor Assembly Plant, Andrejicka explains lunch time was hectic.
“Chrysler guys would come running across the street,” she recalled. “The line would be unbelievable. It would be around the block.”
Mary Ann Andrejicka recalls her experience working at the first Burger King in Canada in Windsor, Ont. on Monday, Dec. 5, 2022. (Sijia Liu/CTV News Windsor)On Friday, Dec. 2, the first Burger King restaurant in Canada reopened its doors with a new look.
Renovations include an outdoor digital menu board in the drive-thru, and a modern new exterior and interior.
This original Burger King is one of 30 locations being redesigned by Redberry across the country in 2022 and 2023.
With the historic location turning a new chapter, Andrejicka hopes the next generation of Burger King employees will make the most out of their experience.
“Appreciate the opportunity to work there. Because it can teach you a lot,” she said. “It can teach you working with other people. It can teach you respect.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his head more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Case against ex-Mountie charged with helping China can go ahead in Quebec, judge says
A Quebec court judge has ruled that the case against a former RCMP officer charged with helping China conduct foreign interference can go ahead in the province.
Steve Albini, legendary producer for Nirvana, the Pixies and an alternative rock pioneer, dies at 61
Steve Albini, an alternative rock pioneer and legendary producer who shaped the musical landscape through his work with Nirvana, the Pixies, PJ Harvey and more, has died. He was 61.
Ippei Mizuhara, ex-interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani, will plead guilty in betting case
The former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani has agreed to plead guilty to bank and tax fraud in a sports betting case in which prosecutors allege he stole nearly US$17 million from the Japanese baseball player to pay off debts, federal prosecutors said Wednesday.
Watch fighter jet pilots pummel fake enemy ship off coast of Philippines
The United States and Philippines held annual joint-training drills just off the Southeast Asian nation’s western coast on Wednesday. Military forces sunk a 'mock' enemy warship – the BRP Lake Caliraya, which was a decommissioned tanker made in China.