On Labor Day 1955, two Georgia neighbors founded and opened a restaurant that would change the world.  Joe Rogers, Sr. and Tom Forkner were living in Avondale Estates, GA* when they decided to open a 24-hour, sit-down restaurant for their friends and neighbors focused on people on both sides of the counter. That first restaurant opened the door to create the Waffle House brand that you see today.

The name was inspired by the most popular item on the original menu. 

As this movement began to expand, new restaurants were built in Georgia as well as neighboring states and the "Yellow Sign" soon became a familiar landmark along city streets and interstate highways across the country.  Today, the Waffle House system is in more than 1,900 locations in 25 states. All open 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

Waffle House has always been about the people Joe and Tom cared about in 1955.  Waffle House was founded on the principals of providing the friendliest service in town.  

"We aren't in the food busines  We're in the people business."

Joe Rogers, Sr.

In 2004, Waffle House reacquired the original restaurant building located at 2719 East College Avenue in Decatur near Avondale Estates and opened it as a museum.  A visit to the museum feels like stepping back into 1955.  The museum also features Waffle House memorabilia from years past. 

*The City of Avondale Estates was founded by George Francis Willis in 1924.  Willis' plans for the city were inspired by the trip he and his wife, Lottie had taken to Stratford-upon-Avon, England.  He aspired to recreate the majestic Tudor-Revival style architecture found at the birthplace of William Shakespeare. Today, Avondale Estates is named on the National Register of Historic Places being added December 1986.  The listing recognized the city's unique "story book look" architecture and its status as the only documented early 20th century planned town in the southeastern United States. This listing prompted the establishment of local historic preservation and a local historic district was established.