Story

Pierre Vandamme was born and raised in Brugge (Bruges), Belgium. In March 2004, after living in Salt Lake City for 10 years, he adapted an old family recipe for the Liège waffle and started a waffle business, selling waffles from a vending cart on Main Street in Salt Lake City. That same year, he also operated the cart at the Downtown Salt Lake City Farmers Market and at local summer events. It didn’t take long for ‘Utahns’ and the local media to fall for the charms of this Belgian waffle artist—or was it the aromas of melting butter and caramelizing sugar that enchanted them? Either way, Pierre’s ambition grew, and soon he added Belgian-style fries (frites) and a surprising variety of freshly made dipping sauces to the menu. It was an instant hit! Thanks to the many loyal fans and glowing press coverage, Pierre was soon able to open a year-round operation—a small but charming ‘hole in the wall’ across from the farmers market on Broadway. The tiny interior, sidewalk patio, and Belgian touches evoked an old-world ambiance as soon as you stepped inside. With a real kitchen came a new product: the Machine Gun Sandwich®, which was even featured on Man v. Food. Bruges Waffles and Frites became so successful that in 2010, Pierre convinced Frederic, his brother-in-law, and his family to relocate from Belgium to Utah to join him in this exciting venture. The summer of 2012 marked another milestone for Bruges Waffles and Frites with the opening of a second year-round restaurant in the charming Sugar House neighborhood, offering more indoor seating. In early 2014, Bruges turned a new page in its history by introducing fresh, artisan-made waffles with a cute, vintage-style Bruges Waffle Bus. The Brugesmobile joined the team in 2016, bringing our Best of Utah fri(t)es to the food truck menu. Today, our family proudly owns and operates two stores and two trucks, sharing our love for Belgium’s Best Loved Foods—or as we call it: authentic Belgian indulgence and a trip to Belgium without the jetlag.