Waffle House
On Labor Day 1955,
Avondale Estates neighbors Joe Rogers Sr. and Tom Forkner founded the
first Waffle House restaurant. The name was inspired by the most popular
item on the original menu. The restaurant's focus on fast-food speed
and round-the-clock service reflected mid-century societal shifts toward
an automobile culture. As suburbs and the interstate highway system
developed throughout the region and the nation, Waffle House grew to
include over 1,600 locations nationwide, becoming an American cultural
icon open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Museum
In 2004, Waffle House reacquired the original restaurant building
located at 2719 East College Avenue in 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 the past 54 years.