Today we’d like to introduce you to Kevin Doerksen.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My journey into tourism began when I was laid off from the travel company where I had worked for 7 years, in September of 2002. I actively looked for employment, but found nothing. I was getting a bit discouraged, when a friend recommended that I take a summer job with a company called Chicago Trolley and Double Decker. They knew that my knowledge of the city was great, and thought I would do well. I applied and was hired in March of 2004. I thought this would be a summer job that would pay the bills until I found “real” work. But summer turned into fall, and before I knew it, I’d been with the company for a year! I had found something that I loved and was passionate about, and could make a living doing it. Thirteen years later, I still do occasional work for the same company. But as my knowledge grew, a desire also grew to do more than what I was able to do at the Trolley Company. So, in the summer of 2011, I launched Wild Onion Walks, on a shoe string budget. I derived my name of the company from the native name for the area, Chi-cau-gou, meaning “place of the wild onion”. In launching WOW, my goal was to “peel back the layers of Chicago”, and give visitors and locals alike, a better understanding as to what makes Chicago tick. So I consider WOW to be a boutique tour company, specializing in Chicago beyond the big sites, although I show those off too!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road. I was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma, in 2008. That took me out of the workforce for a year. It also created some long term health issues that continue to affect my daily life. I also began this venture in the manner that all good business start-up guides recommend to avoid: with no money! As such, I’ve had to rely on word-of-mouth and referrals from satisfied clients. This impedes rapid growth, but really focuses my efforts in being unique, and the best that I can be. But now, in my 6th year, all that work and effort seems to be paying off, as 2017 has been the busiest start of any season so far.
Please tell us about Wild Onion Walks.
Wild Onion Walks focuses on getting up close and personal with the past, present and future of Chicago. Walking provides an intimacy that you cannot get on a tour bus or boat. It allows for a more in-depth look at the historical, architectural, cultural, religious and socioeconomic elements that make the Windy City a dynamic urban environment. All of this is achieved by personalized tours that focus on elements that the client is interested in. While WOW can give you a great general tour of Chicago, it is the specialized tour that sets WOW apart from competitors. An example is the Great Migration Tour. This tour looks at the history of the Black community in Chicago, and the many contributions that Blacks have made to Chicago’s development. From music, faith, cuisine, business and culture, Chicago would not be what it is without the Black community. By helping to see the big picture, and by building bridges with communities that are often overlooked in tourism, Wild Onion Walks seeks to use tourism to create a Chicago that looks beyond the things that divide us and use cultural understanding to build community beyond barriers.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I have grown up in the Andersonville community of Edgewater. I’m raising my family there today. So my cultural roots run towards my Swedish heritage. In 1976, the King of Sweden visited Chicago, to dedicate the Swedish American Museum, in Andersonville. My grandfather and I were at the dedication ceremony, but we were not able to get close enough to shake the King’s hand. My grandfather, who had immigrated from Sweden in the early 20’s was determined to introduce his grandson to his former sovereign! So we went down to the Conrad Hilton, where His Majesty was staying, and when he came through the lobby, on his way to another event, my grandfather addressed him in Swedish. The King stopped and talked with my grandfather, and in a short time, I was introduce to King Karl Gustav. To an 11 year old boy, this was quite heady stuff! I don’t remember what exactly he said to me, but I remember his firm handshake.
Interestingly, when the Swedish American Museum moved to its current location, in 1987, His Majesty made a return appearance to Chicago, to dedicate the new location. My grandfather had passed away in 1980, so I was left to try and greet the King myself. I called out a greeting, in Swedish and, amazingly, he stopped, turned and greeted me. I told him I had been introduced to him back in 1976. He thought for a second, and then asked if I had been with my grandfather. He remembered that particular interaction! I’ve cherished that memory all these years.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.wildonionwalks.com
- Phone: 773-960-5470
- Email: wildonionwalks@gmail.com
- Instagram: @wildonionwalks
- Facebook: wild onion walks chicago
- Twitter: @WOWChiTours
- Yelp: wild onion walks chicago
Image Credit:
All photos by Kevin Doerksen
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