Atlanta-based Waffle House celebrates its 70th anniversary
Founded in the ‘50s, the restaurant has grown from a neighborhood staple to a giant with more than 1,900 locations in 25 states.
Editor’s note: The video above is from previous coverage.
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Waffle House, the iconic all-day breakfast chain founded in metro Atlanta, is celebrating its 70th anniversary on Friday!
Founded in the ‘50s, the restaurant has grown from a neighborhood staple to a giant with more than 1,900 locations in 25 states. To celebrate, customers can enjoy a limited-time birthday cake waffle, topped with cake bites, sprinkles and whipped cream.
Joe Rogers Sr. and Tom Forkner opened the first Waffle House on Sept. 5, 1955. The restaurant was meant to serve their friends and neighbors in Avondale Estates, but it would surpass their expectations to become a national phenomenon.
Now, Waffle House signs are a familiar landmark, especially in the South. Since the beginning, each has been open 24/7 — to the point where a Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator coined the term “Waffle House Index,” describing how badly an area is damaged by a disaster based on how many Waffle Houses are closed.
Today, the very first Waffle House, located at 2719 E College Ave., is home to the Waffle House Museum. It’s open for guided tours by appointment.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
Waffle House drops egg surcharge
Waffle House brings cold brew coffee to select metro Atlanta locations
Marietta Waffle House workers to strike for safer working conditions
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