Technology Institutes
Vaun Miles and Chey Hollingsworth have opened We Keep Ya Walkin’ in Hagerstown, a new company that offers a walking food tour in and around Hagerstown’s Arts and Entertainment District with stops at restaurants in downtown.
The owners aim to bring big city fun while retaining Hagerstown’s small-town feel.
The idea was sparked after Miles and Hollingsworth took a trip in the summer to New York City. While searching for things to do, they stumbled upon food tours that included a historical walking tour. They took the tour, which got Miles thinking about bringing the concept to Hagerstown.
Next year, Miles plans to retire from the Washington County Liquor Board, where she sits as administrator. She thought she might need a new project for herself and approached Hollingsworth with the idea in August. They filed paperwork the following day to start their business.
We Keep Ya Walkin’ food tour will consist of a historical walking tour downtown with stops at historical sites. Tour stops also include two food tastings each at four participating restaurants. Tours end with a stop at Meinelschmidt Distillery. The mile-long walking tour runs about three hours total.
“We are looking to get more foot traffic downtown and to try to break the misconception of what everybody thinks Hagerstown is,” Miles said. “And we’re trying to tell people a little bit about our history and what we have in downtown.”
A total of 12 downtown Hagerstown restaurants are participating in the tour.
A list of upcoming tour dates is available at wekeepyawalkin.com, where patrons can book tours.
Tours can accommodate 6 to 20 people and cost between $75 and $95 per person per tour.
Walks will be available year-round, weather permitting.
“I think the main thing we’re looking at is boosting smaller businesses in the Hagerstown Arts & Entertainment District,” Hollingsworth said. “We like having people meet different people and learn about the history of Hagerstown.”
In addition to the regular walking tour, We Keep Ya Walkin’ will offer themed tours, such as Halloween Ladies Night. Tours can also be customized for celebrations, such as bachelorette parties, graduations and baby showers.
Miles and Hollingsworth said they hope to take this concept and expand it outside of Hagerstown, but their next big project will be planning their wedding. Their New York City trip also included an engagement.
link