Its empire now spans across a full half of the 50 continental states, and though it’s concentrated in the South, Waffle Houses can be found as far north as Ohio and as far west as Arizona. The company began franchising in 1960 and in the beginning grew slowly, but expansion picked up in the ’70s and ’80s. The original Waffle House is now a museum. Co-founder Forkner once explained how he and Rogers, who were neighbors, started the chain: “He said, ‘You build a restaurant and I’ll show you how to run it.’” They named it Waffle House because waffles were the most profitable menu item (and therefore, what they most wanted customers to order). The vision: combine fast food, available 24 hours a day, with table service. The first Waffle House made its debut in 1955 in the Atlanta suburb of Avondale Estates. Here now, a look back at the legend, and for fans near and far, everything you need to know about Waffle House. The chain, which claims to have sold its billionth waffle sometime in 2015, recently saw both of its founders, Tom Forkner and Joe Rogers Sr., die within just two months of one another. The chain has inspired numerous books, including a first-person narrative from a former line cook titled As the Waffle Burns as well as one by a pastor called - naturally - The Gospel According to Waffle House. Is it the cheap prices? The no-frills atmosphere? Those illustrious hash browns that somehow taste better when you’re intoxicated? The waitresses that inevitably call you “honey”? Likely some combination of all of the above, plus a little bit of that inexplicable Southern diner magic - call it the Waffle House je ne sais quoi. Slinging humble breakfast fare around the clock, Waffle House inspires deep and unyielding loyalty in diners like few restaurant chains ( except maybe Whataburger) can. Since its founding in Atlanta some 60 years ago, the restaurant has been elevated to cultural touchstone, now sprawling across 25 U.S. No 24-hour diner chain inspires quite the same cult following as Waffle House.
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