WESTFIELD – After the Westfield Planning Board approved a special permit for a home bakery at its Feb. 2 meeting, the owners of Wickedly Wild Waffles are preparing to open for business once their 20-day appeal period ends.

Tara Satkowski, Wickedly Wild Waffles’ owner, said she originally fell in love with making waffles after her children asked what she wanted for Mother’s Day several years ago.

“One Mother’s Day my kids asked what I wanted, and I said a waffle maker because we didn’t have one. It was born from that because I started to enjoy making waffles so much and seeing the kids love the waffles, different variations of them, and getting creative from there. That’s where it all started,” she said.

Once she found her love for waffles, Satkowski said she wanted to extend that love to others through her own business.

“I just love waffles and I always wanted to have my own business, and I wanted a waffle truck. It sounds like it would make people happy and would be a rewarding and fulfilling business venture, because you’re servicing someone with something they like and an extension of something I love,” she said.

Satkowski said she is going to offer a variety of waffle flavors and types.

“I have a keto waffle available and I can do a vegan variation as well. The type of waffle is specialty traditional Belgian waffle called a liege waffle. So, that’s the premise and there are different flavors that I have been experimenting with, and so far my taste tests have been successful,” she said.

While she will offer other food alongside the waffles, Satkowski said she wanted to keep those a secret for now.

With just under three weeks before she can open her business, Satkowski said she is working out the final kinks, including finalizing the order process through her website.

“I do have a website so I’m going to be working with a web designer to make it really simple to order online because I don’t think social media apps support that as well as I would like, and I want to be it streamlined and easy for customers,” she said.

For pickups, Satkowski said she will adhere to all the current COVID-19 guidelines.

“I’m still trying to figure out the time frame but I don’t really anticipate a lot of pickups but who knows? They could either pay in advance and come pick up a bag with their name on it or leave cash in a money tin. I work remotely so I’m home and I will be scheduling those pickup times for when I’m home,” she said.

While she wants to expand into eventually owning a food truck, Satkowski said COVID has put those plans on hold.

“Initially I just want to start with the waffles to get the business up and running so I can get a food truck eventually. Due to COVID, it’s just been impossible to get a loan and it’s a tough time to start a business,” she said.