Waffle House(R) Restaurants Celebrate 50 Years of Good Food Fast(R)

    NORCROSS, Ga., Feb. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Waffle House restaurants, founded in
 1955, is holding a year-long celebration to commemorate a half of a century of
 serving Good Food Fast (R), and to thank loyal customers, employees and
 neighbors who helped Waffle House restaurants become America's Place to
 Eat(R).
     The celebration kicks off the celebration with the "We Love Our Customers
 Contest" on February 14.  The staff of each participating Waffle House
 restaurant will select the top 50 customers and award each customer with
 priceless 50th Anniversary Waffle House merchandise, including the coveted
 Waffle House coffee mugs.
     "We're very excited about celebrating our 50th anniversary with our
 customers and associates," said Bert Thornton, Waffle House president and the
 "Bert" of Bert's Chili(TM). "Since 1955, the Waffle House system has served
 2.6 billion customers so it's the perfect time to show how much we appreciate
 our customers and associates for making us the phenomenon we've become."
     Begun in September 1955, the Waffle House restaurant system started as a
 dream shared by two neighbors. Joe Rogers, Sr., and Tom Forkner wanted to
 create a restaurant focused on people -- both the associates and customers --
 while serving quality food at a great value.
     On Labor Day 1955, their dream became a reality -- and an icon was born --
 when the first Waffle House restaurant opened its doors for business in
 Avondale Estates, an Atlanta suburb. Today the Waffle House system operates
 more than 1,400 restaurants in 25 states. This year's anniversary will
 celebrate past achievements, longtime customers, associates and vendor
 partnerships.
     The year-long 50th Anniversary celebration will have special events and
 offers including a Summer Customer Contest, National Waffle Week celebrations,
 the Stone Mountain (Ga.) Chili Cook-off, and the release of a special 50th
 Anniversary song that can only be heard in the Waffle House restaurants.
 Waffle House restaurants will also be the official restaurant sponsor for the
 35th annual Peachtree Road Race and open a display in May at the World of Coke
 in Atlanta that will feature historical restaurant photos, associate uniforms
 and a replica of the Waffle House high counter.
 
     About Waffle House: Headquartered in Norcross, Ga., Waffle House has been
 serving Good Food Fast(R) since 1955. Today the Waffle House system operates
 more than 1,400 company and franchise restaurants in 25 states and is the
 world's leading server of waffles, T-bone steaks, hashbrowns, cheese 'n eggs,
 USDA Choice hamburgers, country ham, pork chops, and grits.
 
 

SOURCE  Waffle House, Inc.