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You're IT Waffle Cabin!Three questions with Corey Londoner, owner of Waffle Cabin.
Why did you start your business?
After I sold JoyRide Ridgefield, I was looking for something to do that I could be as passionate about and that would be fun and bring happiness to people. While skiing at Stratton Mountain in Vermont, we found Waffle Cabin and once we tasted their waffles it was true love. We saw how much skiers loved the waffles and I thought why just have them when we ski? This needs to be a year-round option! Since I have a culinary background I thought I would see if they had a franchising option and they did. Everything came together perfectly and now I have the first Waffle Cabin in Connecticut. Everyone jokes that now they don't have to ski anymore! It's great to bring joy to customers once more!
Bestselling product or service?
Our best selling product is obviously our Belgian Liege sugar waffles. These are yeast based waffles that have sugar pearls imported from Belgium in them. The sugar pearls melt and caramelize when we bake the waffles and it creates the beautiful sweet outside of the waffle. This is why they don't need syrup! The added bonus about not being on the mountain and having a sit-down option is we are able to serve them with toppings. The traditional topping is melted Belgian chocolate but we are lucky to have other toppings. One of my favorites is ice cream from SoCo Creamery. They are a small batch company from Great Barrington, MA and we first tried it when we bought a pint from Milillo Farms in Ridgefield. What I love is that it is an all natural ice cream without corn syrups or hormones. You can get ice cream on top of a waffle or simply enjoy the ice cream in a cup or cone. Another popular topping is cookie butter, Nutella, and cinnamon sugar. We do daily specials such as strawberries and cream or S'mores waffles. Our location, Pine Street Concessions has the best outdoor seating that is such a nice place to enjoy a waffle or ice cream.
How many people do we employ?
I am so lucky to have an incredible team to work with! My 14-year-old son was my first employee and it is such a joy to share this with him and to teach him business at such an early age. I can see him running it in no time! I also have a few high school students that are amazing. We are participating in the Ridgefield High School Intern Program and have the best student who loves to cook, learn the business, and help with our social media and marketing. One day she would like to own her own bakery! I also have a student from New Canaan High School and one from St. Luke's School in New Canaan. I love that their first jobs are with us and we can watch them learn and grow. The icing on the cake (or waffle I should say), is having friends from JoyRide helping. Our whole team is so passionate and has so much fun together. I love surrounding myself with great people. It truly is a friend and family business! Who says work can't be fun?!
Waffle Cabin is located at 75 Pine Street in New Canaan. Visit Waffle Cabin online here.
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