Smothered, Covered and Beloved: The History of Waffle House

It was a sunny day in 1955 when the first Waffle House restaurant opened its doors; but even if it had been in the middle of a hurricane, Waffle House perseveres! That is part of its creed, and the famous Waffle House Index (coined by FEMA) indicates how severe a storm is by whether or not Waffle House stays open.

 Equipped with backup generators, jump teams, and a comprehensive disaster plan known as the Waffle House Storm Playbook, Waffle House has become a beacon of resilience. (Grab your sick Waffle House merch stickers here.)

The chain has grown to thousands of locations predominantly focused in the United States Southeast. Open 24 hours, it has garnered quite a reputation: it is a haven for the drunk, the hungover, the road-trippers, and for, judging by numerous viral videos, people who really want to pick a fight. (And maybe even throw some chairs.)

Origin Story

So how did this legacy begin? It all started in Avondale Estates, where the first Waffle House restaurant was opened. It has two founding fathers: Joe Rogers Sr. and Tom Forkner. Rogers got his start in the restaurant biz as a short order cook and worked his way up to regional manager of a national chain. (If he can do it, you can too!)

Forkner was a realtor and businessman. Forker sold Rogers a house, and the rest is history. Forkner recalled Rogers once telling him: "You build a restaurant and I'll show you how to run it." (Am I the only one with chills right now?)

They opened three more locations in the next five years and accelerated to nearly thirty in the next decade.

How to Show Your Love for WaHo

In one particularly memorable interaction last year, a HomeGrown customer was checking out at the front counter and purchasing this Katie Scarlett Waffle House print. "It's not just a restaurant," they said, "it's a way of life."

This infectious level of passion inspired us to curate our own collection of Waffle House art prints, stickers and tee shirts to help spread the good word. Waffle House is a southern staple and as much of a celebrity as any fast-casual restaurant chain can be.

If you want to show your appreciation and get a buttery taste of history, the first Waffle House restaurant has now been converted into a museum in Avondale Estates. They have open houses several Saturdays a year. Come check them out, grab yourself some Waffle House art, and stop for some hashbrowns while you're in town!

Waffle House: Good Food Fast!