First Waffle House® Restaurant To Be Named Georgia Historic Site During National Waffle Week

NORCROSS, Ga., Aug. 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The site of the first Waffle House® restaurant will now be a historic site, as proclaimed by the Georgia Historical Society.

On Saturday, September 8, 2012, a Georgia historical marker will be unveiled at the first Waffle House restaurant in Avondale Estates, Ga.  Now a museum dedicated to the Southern staple, a dedication celebration will begin at one o'clock in the afternoon to conclude the events of National Waffle Week, September 2-8.

Waffle House restaurants opened "Unit #1" on Labor Day, 1955 in Avondale Estates, Ga. when two neighbors, Joe Rogers, Sr. and Tom Forkner envisioned a restaurant focused on people–both the associates and customers–while serving quality food at a great value.

"We never dreamed that Waffle House would be as big as it is today when we opened our doors in 1955. In the beginning, we thought we would open about 10 locations and then go fishing," tells Waffle House Co-Founder Joe Rogers, Sr.

Today, there are more than 1,650 Waffle House locations in 25 states. Since day one, the goal was to provide guests with a unique and comfortable dining experience. At every restaurant, the bright "yellow sign" welcomes customers like an old friend, the jukebox plays a variety of now famous Waffle House songs and associates give customers a heartfelt greeting as they walk through the door.

"I'm proud that we began this journey 57 years ago in my home town of Avondale Estates, and we are fortunate to still be part of this great community with the Waffle House Museum," says Waffle House Co-Founder Tom Forkner.

The City of Avondale Estates, Ga. has been instrumental in the process to name the Waffle House Museum as a Georgia historic site.

"Waffle House and the City of Avondale Estates, Georgia have enjoyed a special relationship over the last fifty-seven years," states Avondale Estates Mayor Ed Rieker. "The founding of Waffle House in 1955 in our community forever linked the two. The Waffle House, its founders, management and team members have been and continue to be great community partners and neighbors. The City of Avondale Estates is proud to have the Waffle House Museum, the site of the original Waffle House, in our city,"

Dr. W. Todd Groce, President and CEO of the Georgia Historical Society adds, "During the past fifty years, Georgia has played an important role in the development of our nation's economy. The Georgia Historical Society is pleased to be able to install this historical marker about the founding and growth of one of our state's most significant and legendary corporations, Waffle House, and the crucial role it has played in fueling the American economy."    

The Waffle House Museum will be open on Saturday September 8, 2012 from noon – 3pm with the marker dedication scheduled for 1pm. All are invited to join the Waffle House founders, executives, the Avondale Estates community and friends of Waffle House as we celebrate the 57-year heritage of this Southern icon.

For more information about the historic marker dedication and all the events of National Waffle Week, please visit www.wafflehouse.com/nww2012.

About Waffle House® restaurants
Headquartered in Norcross, GA, Waffle House^® restaurants have been serving Good Food Fast® since 1955. Today the Waffle House system operates more than 1,650 restaurants in 25 states and is the world's leading server of waffles, T-bone steaks, hashbrowns, cheese 'n eggs, country ham, pork chops and grits.

Waffle House, Inc. launched National Waffle Week in honor of the crisp, round, golden treat known as the waffle.  Waffle House waffles are made with sweet cream or buttermilk, vanilla, eggs and pure Pioneer flour.  In the past 57 years, Waffle House has sold more than 800 million waffles to become the world's leading server of waffles.

"The Georgia historical marker program is a program of the Georgia Historical Society."

SOURCE Waffle House, Inc.