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In 1955, two neighbors in Avondale Estates flipped their first waffles, unknowingly creating a Southern institution. Joe Rogers Sr. and Tom Forkner founded Waffle House with a simple mission: good food, fast and always open.
The diner grew into over 2,000 locations, all serving up the same classic formula: hot coffee, friendly banter and comfort food available 24/7. Waffle House’s commitment to never closing, even during hurricanes, led FEMA to use Waffle House as a disaster gauge: if it’s shut down, the situation is dire.
Joe Rogers, Sr. said, “We aren’t in the food business. We’re in the people business.”
– Rebecca Hastings, The Georgia 100