Fifty Flippin’ Fabulous from Grill to Glory
Bartels Giant Burger Celebrates 50 Years…
In 1975, Dennis and Carole Bartel opened a burger stand on Bechelli Lane in Redding with a simple mission: serve a really good, old-fashioned burger using fresh ingredients—and do it with a smile.
Fifty years later, Bartels Giant Burger is still family-run, still rooted in that same mission, and still serving generations of customers who know exactly what to expect: a quality meal and a warm welcome.
Today, the Bartels operate three locations—in Redding, Anderson, and Corning—with the help of their two sons and a grandson. Their original shop on Bechelli Lane may have closed in 2003, but the spirit of that little burger stand lives on.
“We just wanted to create a place where people could get a really good burger and be treated kindly,” says Carole Bartel. “That philosophy hasn’t changed.”
The Bartels’ journey began far from Redding. Dennis and Carole moved to California from Nebraska in a 1940 Ford pickup, settling first in the Bay Area. Dennis worked as a heavy-duty diesel mechanic, and Carole was an office secretary. After a transfer opportunity opened up with the Operating Engineers Union in the mid-1960s, Dennis visited Redding and immediately saw its potential as a great place to raise their young boys. “We loved the slower pace, the mountains, the community,” Carole says. “So, we took a leap of faith.”
That leap became a family legacy. With encouragement from Dennis’ brother, Don, who was in real estate, and inspiration from their favorite burger joints in the Bay Area, they opened their first restaurant in June 1975. By January 1976, they’d added a second location on Lake Boulevard. Then a year later came a third in Anderson. “It was chaotic,” Carole says with a laugh, “especially with two little boys and no experience in the restaurant business. But we figured it out.”
Walk into the Redding Bartels today, and you won’t find touchscreens, digital kiosks, or menu items with hard-to-pronounce ingredients. What you will find is the same Giant Burger made with fresh, never-frozen beef sourced from R&R Quality Meats in Redding—the same beef company they started with 50 years ago. “Our customers love that we haven’t changed much,” Carole says. “There’s comfort in knowing you’ll get the same quality burger you remember from your childhood.”
Alongside the classic third-pound Giant Burger, fries and shakes, the menu has gradually expanded over the years to include a smaller-sized burger, a kid’s burger, Polish dogs, chicken sandwiches, veggie burgers and malts. But the approach remains the same: Keep it simple, keep it fresh.
And affordable, too. A full meal—a burger, fries, and a shake—still rings in under $14. A kid’s burger? Just $2.55.
Even after five decades, Dennis and Carole—both now in their 80s—are still active in the business. Their younger son helps manage the Redding and Anderson locations, while their oldest runs the Corning restaurant. Their grandson works in the Redding shop.
“We’ve had a lot of long-time employees, and we treat them like family,” Carole says. That includes birthday gifts, anniversary recognition, Christmas parties and an emphasis on a respectful, supportive workplace. “People appreciate working in a place where they’re valued.”
That culture extends to customers, too. Employees deliver food to tables—no numbers to pick up, no shouting across the counter. It’s part of the old-fashioned service philosophy Carole says has helped them stand out, especially in a post-COVID world where customer service seems an afterthought at many places. “People come for the food,” she says, “but they also come for that sense of home. That connection. I feel we need more of that connection to each other.”
The pandemic was a test for every restaurant, but Bartels Giant Burger was better positioned than most. Thanks to a strong take-out business and a loyal customer base, they were able to stay open without layoffs or government loans.
“We felt fortunate,” Carole says. “We knew there were others who needed help more than we did.”
That sense of humility and community has been a constant. Carole still sits in on job interviews, emphasizing friendliness and attitude. “We tell our staff to treat people the way they’d want to be treated,” she says. “It really is that simple.”
After 50 years, the Bartels have watched former employees become grandparents—and still stop by for a burger. “I might forget a name,” Carole says, “but I always remember a face.”
The nostalgia runs deep. The walls are lined with family photos and whimsical signs. There’s no sleek branding or corporate polish. Just fresh food, memories and attentive servers behind the counter.
“When people travel, they look for places like this,” Carole says. “Not just another chain. They want a place that feels like home.”
Carole and Dennis celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary in August. When asked if they still love the work, Carole doesn’t hesitate. “It’s been a labor of love from the very beginning,” she says. “Otherwise, we wouldn’t still be doing it.”
How Do You
Pronounce It?
For decades, it’s been one of the mysteries of Redding: How in the heck do you pronounce the name of the burger place on Lake Boulevard? Is it BAR-tuhlz or bar-TELZ?
Friends have debated the issue over a burger and fries. Some people just avoid it and just call it Giant Burger.
So, the answer is …
Drum roll …
“Well, it’s really both,” says Dennis Bartel, the owner of the Bartels Giant Burger for all 50 years. “Either way is actually correct.”
Here’s the simple explanation:
“When we lived in Nebraska, our family name was pronounced BAR-tuhlz. It’s a Germanic surname,” Dennis says. “When we moved to California, my older brother, Don, was already out here and he had decided to go with bar-TELZ. So we did the same.”
BAR-tuhlz or bar-TELZ? It doesn’t matter to the Bartels. Just as long as you visit Giant Burger and enjoy the homestyle food and the nostalgic ambiance.•
Bartels Giant Burger
75 Lake Blvd. East, Redding • (530) 243-7313
2311 North St., Anderson • (530) 365-5300
723 Walnut St., Red Bluff • (530) 736-2100
bartelsgiantburger.com
