On what the place is
“Broken Barrel belongs to the town. We're not a bar, we're a restaurant with a bar.”
The room she ended up owning
How it happened
Two managers left. She stayed.
When the managers moved on, Gena picked up what they'd dropped. She and Brandon had run KFC locations together for ten years, so neither of them was new to a kitchen — but neither was looking for another one.
Then, on a cruise in 2023, the previous owner suggested she buy it. They took it on and marked their first year of ownership in March 2025.
Her verdict on the transition: “It's been challenging, but not as hard as I thought it would be. The lottery and the liquor were the hardest part.”
What she says about it
Four things
Four things
in her own words.
Quoted from an interview with a local paper, not written by us.
On the burgers
“Our burgers are hand-pressed every day. We may pay a little more for it, but we believe in only serving the best.”
On the staff
“Staffing is one of the most important things. Getting the right people who mesh, our team all gets along and works well together.”
On how it should feel
“We want customers to come in and relax, to feel like family, like this is our house, not a restaurant.”
Every patty, by hand
The family, and the nine
“We bought a bar
“We bought a bar
and gained a family.”
They run it together. Gena is out front, Brandon is in the kitchen, and their son works the line beside him — the same way they ran KFC locations together for a decade before this.
That's how Gena describes the nine on the team, too. When a coworker ended up in hospital, the rest of them rearranged their own schedules to cover the shifts without being asked.
It shows up in the reviews as “friendly service”, but it's really just what happens when nine people actually like working together in a town of two thousand.
Her summary of the whole thing: “It's been really good, a lot of fun. We have the perfect staff and I love the community and our clientele.”
Featured on America's Best Restaurants, 2025
A national road-crew series that films independent, locally owned restaurants worth driving
to. They came to Stanfield — population around two thousand — and put a camera in this
kitchen. The badge is on the front of the menu.
“
This was seriously one THE best burgers I've had in a long time. Delicious LOCAL meat and home made sauces too!!!Guest review
“
We were surprised at how good and innovative the burgers were. Never had one with cooked jalapenos and it was delicious.Guest review
“
Broken Barrel belongs to the town. We're not a bar, we're a restaurant with a bar.Gena Clayton, owner
120 W Coe Ave · Stanfield, Oregon
Open every day, eleven till ten.
Walk in, order ahead for pickup, or call. Prime rib on Saturday nights.
(541) 449‑5555