The art and science of making the best waffles in the world. Period.
Peter Creyf, owner and founder of Waffle Cabin: "The Waffle CabinTM is a concept that we started in May 1998. Originally it was called "Leo's - Gaufres de Liège" - a tribute to my tutor Leo Vermeulen in Antwerp, Belgium". We started from a pushcart at Quincy Market in Boston in May 1998. After varied results (read "not great results") at this location and one at Boston Common Park, "I was pounding my head why we didn't see a break-through, even though the customers who tried our waffles, were delighted. In retrospect, I am really happy I went through this period (back then, not so much), as it resulted in the idea of trying to do this at a new venue - ski resorts; this almost 2 years after our initial start....."
So here is.... I thank all of our customers, the resorts & the people at those resorts who gave us a chance - from the bottom of my heart - Thank You !
My biggest Thank You goes to Leo who didn't know me and who I met back in Antwerp in 1996 through a mutual friend, and who, after just our initial meeting where I told him I wanted to come to the US, agreed to help me, share his knowledge, his recipe, etc...
Leo is not just my tutor anymore, he has become a life-long friend who I visit religiously every single time I go back home to Antwerp to visit my family and friends. I haven't missed a single time, and wouldn't want to miss a single time.
Cheers to you Leo !
I would not be where I am today without You !
In December 1999, we were given a chance at Killington Resort in Vermont, and this during Christmas week. As my contact Tracy T. put it: "I'll give you a chance to prove yourself during Christmas week, and if it won't work during that week, it will never work !". But what happened, was just the opposite.... customers immediately embraced our product and both us, as well as Killington's management saw the result and equally important, the benefit it brough to the resort. Happy customers are more likely to come back to that resort.
After that initial week, the resort said we could stay for the entire season, which we pretty much did.
Chris G., then F&B director for Stowe Mountain Resort also agreed to let us try at Stowe Mountain. And here too, the same thing happened... customers loved our product, embraced our product and both resort and us saw the net benefit of our addition to the mountain.
That same winter , President's week was even bigger than our Christmas week trial and only reinforced what we had felt - this is a WIN-WIN-WIN ... CUSTOMER - RESORT - WAFFLE CABIN (back then not yet under that name). It was the start of what we are today, and I will never forget the chance I was given, back then that winter, and the following winters as we grew to other resorts.
This is the story of my life for the past almost 30 years. It has been such a rewarding journey, thanks to Leo, to you our customer and to every resort we are part of (as even though we are a "3rd party" to any resort, I see ourselves as part of the resort and always have, and always will, want to be a positive net benefit to each and every one). I live by several motto's, one being:"you should never take more than you give" which I learned while watching The Lion King with my kids. I truly believe in that statement/motto.
We are no longer just in Ski Resorts. We have franchisees outside of ski resorts, we have franchisees who have a Waffle Cabin Wagon (truck or trailer).
Yet what is most exciting, is what is next to come, our next chapter...
These past 30 years (at least almost 30 years), have given me all that is needed to grow Waffle Cabin in many more ways, with other products, etc...
The Waffle Cabins at ski resorts will probably always remain what they are today, or close to that. But there are so many more venues we can venture into, with cabins, Wagons and also including storefronts; this with the Liège waffle, but also with other waffle products. One thing that will stay central, and that is that You - our customer - can keep counting on us serving you only the very best.
"Waffle Cabin is the gold standard and I will keep amazing you with the next line of products..." - Peter Creyf.