Photos: Derek Hom
The waffle business has big plans for its small drive-thru shop.
Wilder Waffle Co. is opening its first permanent location on the corner of Interstate 94 and Highway 12 in Hudson. Usually found traveling the valley (and beyond) as a mobile trailer, the shop plans to serve up a new extended menu of sweet and savory waffles at the permanent location starting this November.
We asked Wilder Waffle Co. owner Derek Hom more about the company’s past and plans for the future.
Can you tell us about how your waffle business first got started and how it’s evolved?
Wilder Waffle Co. started in 2023, serving at small, local venues. Last year, we grew after working for some of the state’s biggest events, such as Rock Fest and the Lumberjack World Championships. We operated out of the waffle trailer and prepared all the dough in a commercial kitchen in downtown Hudson. Also, we had pickup and delivery options online with frozen waffles sold in four grocery stores. With my second child on the way, I decided to take the business back to local events.
What inspired you to build the original waffle trailer?
When my wife and I were blessed with our first child, we began brainstorming ways to avoid daycare. We decided to turn our trailer into a food trailer. I used some of my existing skills from working as an engineer and learned more while building it. After researching, we landed on Belgian Liège waffles, a yeasted brioche dough, with Belgian pearl sugar added to caramelize the crust. They are the best waffles in the world!
What inspired the decision to open a permanent drive-thru location in Hudson?
The direction I wanted to go was to buy another trailer and stay mobile, but I drove by the location off Exit 4 all the time and noticed that nobody was utilizing that space. The owner was willing to rent it out as long as they had to do no repairs. Lucky for them, I am pretty handy, so a few weeks later we are almost ready to open! [We’re] aiming for November 1, and we plan to be open seven days a week from 6 a.m.–noon.
Derek Hom at the new permanent location of Wilder Waffle Co.
Tell us about your new menu—what can customers look forward to?
Our waffle menu will include handhelds that are easy to eat in the car, a few of our “Wilder Waffles” that are crowd favorites from the trailer and breakfast sandwiches with options like egg, cheese, sausage and bacon. Due to the lack of breakfast options in that area off Exit 4, we knew it was something that had to be done. Our coffee menu will include our regular offerings, adding in cold brew coffee, regular drip coffee and chai tea lattes. We also plan on having specials like waffle-of-the-week and seasonal coffee drinks.
What item are you personally most excited for people to try?
I’m excited for people to try some of our new waffle recipes, our new breakfast sandwiches and our cold brew. We will have nitro cold brew too!
What are your goals for the future of the waffle shop after this new location opens?
My goal is to get my new staff trained in and develop some of them into leaders so that we can continue to grow with more waffle trailers and more drive-thru locations across the area.
Wilder Waffle Co.
Instagram: @wilderwaffleco
