Waffle House is a popular chain of restaurants known for its delicious waffles and Southern-style breakfast dishes. The history of the franchise dates back to 1955, when Joe Rogers Sr. and Tom Forkner opened the first Waffle House restaurant in Avondale Estates, Georgia. The two men, who were neighbors, came up with the idea of combining the speed of fast food with the quality of table service, creating a restaurant that was open 24/7 and served fresh, made-to-order meals.

Joe Rogers Sr. had worked as a short-order cook in 1947 and later became a regional manager with Toddle House, a Memphis-based chain. He met Tom Forkner while buying a house from him in Avondale Estates, and the two men became friends. They decided to go into business together and opened the first Waffle House restaurant on Labor Day weekend in 1955.

The restaurant was an instant success, thanks to its delicious food and friendly service. The menu included 16 items, with waffles being the most popular item due to their high profit margin. Forkner suggested the name "Waffle House," and Rogers agreed, as he believed it would be easy for customers to remember.

Rogers continued to work with Toddle House after opening the first Waffle House, but he sold his interest to Forkner in 1956 to avoid a conflict of interest. However, he rejoined Waffle House in 1960 after being refused a buy-in to Toddle House. By then, Waffle House had expanded to three restaurants, and Rogers took charge of restaurant operations.

The company began franchising its restaurants after opening its fourth location in 1960. By the late 1960s, the chain had grown to 27 stores and continued to expand rapidly. Today, there are over 2,000 Waffle House locations across the United States.

The founders of Waffle House were not involved in management as the company grew, and Joe Rogers Jr. took over as CEO in 1973. He served as CEO until his retirement in late 2013, while Bert Thornton is currently the president.

In 2007, Waffle House repurchased the original restaurant, which had been sold by the chain in the early 1970s. The company restored it using original blueprints and turned it into a private company museum that is used primarily for internal corporate events and tours.

One of the biggest Waffle House franchises in the southeast, North Lake Foods, was bought out by Waffle House, Inc. in 2008. North Lake Foods filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and closed some stores, but Waffle House, Inc. plans to rehabilitate the franchise. In early 2009, East Coast Waffles bought North Lake Foods to become a new franchise.

Sadly, the founders of the Waffle House brand passed away within two months of each other in 2017. Joe Rogers Sr. died on March 3, while Tom Forkner passed away on April 26. Despite their passing, their legacy continues to live on in the many Waffle House restaurants across the country.