Today we’d like to introduce you to Wally Strzepka.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Wally. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I received my Bachelor and Masters in Business Administration from Lewis University. During college, I worked in the cafe restaurant industry because it was a good source of income for college expenses. While serving at a café restaurant in Burr Ridge, IL, I developed cooking and food service skills. I began to cook and bake at home regularly and found it very appealing and enjoyable. I specialized in waffle baking after uncovering an old generic waffle maker my father had bought for me. After 2 years of self-practice with recipes, and a handful of satisfied family and friends, I pondered a way that I could continue my odd hobby. Finally, I decided that I would enter in the catering/food industry.
With this thought in mind, I began to do market research. After speaking with many different people (varying from business owners to other waffle enthusiasts), reading hundreds of articles, watching countless YouTube videos, and offering countless samples and catering demonstrations, I recognized that this concept was viable and started writing a business plan. I had mastered two different waffles styles found in Belgium: The Liege and Brussels. Each waffle was perfected after months – year of experiments in recipes and processes. My goal is to bring the waffle bar experience to fore, to help Wally’s Waffles, LLC grow to become the number one choice for a unique waffle catering experience in the Chicago and Chicagoland area.
Has it been a smooth road?
With any new business venture, there were a handful of roadblocks and countless struggles. Anyone who watches Shark Tank knows that launching even a basic business alone can be daunting. The struggles continue today. The initial struggle was communicating to the public that this concept was realistic. Considering my personality, it was perceived as a joke. It wasn’t until I had a few believers (whom I praise to this day) hire me, that friends, family, and the public began to recognize the uniqueness in the service and the delicious product offered.
Once the ball was rolling, I encountered operational struggles in efficiency and transportation. My first catering event, I showed up with about 30 grocery bags and 2 old tables that weighed over 60 lbs… taking me 12 trips one way to set up. In addition to two car accidents, my most exciting struggle was learning how to crush Oreos in an ER room. The ER nurse chuckled at me after I explained that I had almost cut my finger off trying to cut Oreos for waffles. His enlightening response, “Why didn’t you just crush them in a large bag?” In that moment, I had an “Oreo Epiphany!” which is life-changing in the waffling world. I guess becoming an expert waffler means you have to get banged up a little along the course. In summary, I realized the learning process is part of the experience in starting a business and sticking it out can result in great satisfaction when things go right.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Wally’s Waffles – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Wally’s Waffles Catering Services is a catering business that is based in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Our intention of starting a catering business in Chicago is to deliver the best quality waffle catering services at an affordable price to a wide range of customers. Our services involve catering for parties, outdoor events, weddings, holiday parties, birthday parties, corporate events, wedding showers, baby showers, bachelorette parties, picnics, and special events. Recently, the business began to host “Pop-Up” shop events at United Kitchen, La Grange and will be entering farmer’s markets in the Chicagoland suburbs. Our waffle options give the customers a chance to have either their favorite or try something new.
Sugar has been known to medically increase energy and joy in a person, so by eating a waffle dessert the customer is almost guaranteed joy. A key aspect and driving force of the business model is to bring joy to all stakeholders involved, including customers and employees. Also, people get to treat themselves occasionally after working hard, having a bad day, winning an award and/or celebrating a special occasion. People like to have something calorie infested when celebrating, so it is common that when the customer indulges in a waffle the sense of celebration and joy comes along, due to psychological attachments to desserts that they gain uncontrollably.
The key features of our waffles are that it gives a huge set of selections between different types of dessert so that you can pick toppings based on your preference and know there is something there for you. In addition, healthy waffle options will be available, including gluten free, vegan free waffles. One specialty option will be offered to test customer preferences. We try to use locally produced ingredients, including buying our chocolate from quality Belgian Chocolatier, and dairy from local markets. Specialty items will include ice cream during the warm months, pumpkin flavors in fall, various food decor based on holiday seasons, and savory options like mac and cheese, pulled pork, and fried chicken.
The product we are most proud of is the Liege style waffle. This waffle is richer and sweeter than the typical American waffle — caramelized sugar glistening on a tender, buttery, vanilla-laden joy for the senses. We have done months of research and experiments with ingredients and processes to bring the best quality and tasty Liege waffle around. Chunks of imported Belgian Pearl Sugar are folded into our dough. They melt during the rising process and form a chewy, warm, flaky, center with a caramelized crunchy exterior when baked in our cast iron waffle press. Our waffle iron is imported so that we can give you the best gourmet Liege waffle experience you’ve ever had.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I was born and raised in Chicago and I have to say the best part about living here is the food scene. Every other city I have traveled to has always had some type of “Chicago” style restaurant, but they never compare…especially when it comes to pizza or burgers. On top of the food, we have some of the most exciting sports teams. Probably no other sports teams have earned such late-night television fame… and we all love rubbing it in when we win. The best part about both, is that the sports and food are the two things that bring us together.
The worst part about Chicago in my eyes is the traffic. We might have our R&D department look into teleporting our waffles…maybe one day we will be the first food company to serve Martians.
Pricing:
- Local Box Orders run between $40-$50 depending on the menu selections.
- On-Site Catering Events start at $250
- Pop-Up Shop gourmet waffles start at $5.00
Contact Info:
- Website: www.wallys-waffles.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wallys_waffles/?hl=en
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/Wallys-Waffles-1082276458449193/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/wallys-waffles-chicago
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