waffle house
But what really sets Waffle House apart is the unique dining experience that customers receive. [1]
At Waffle House, customers enjoy sit-down table service with the speed of delivery typically found at fast food establishments. [2]
On Labor Day in 1955 they opened the first Waffle House restaurant in Avondale Estates, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. [3]
The Waffle House menu offers variety with a breakfast focus and features signature meals along with America’s best brands. [1]
Most of the locations are in the Southern United States, where the chain remains a regional cultural icon. [...] Rogers’ concept was to marry the speed of fast food with table service and around the clock availability. [4]
Joe Rogers Sr., father of CEO Joe Rogers Jr., started the family-owned business with partner Tom Forkner in 1955. [3]
That restaurant was conceived and founded by Joe Rogers Sr. and Tom Forkner, who both continue to own a majority of the company today. [4]
The restaurants, which are either company-owned or franchised, pride themselves on serving good food fast, at a reasonable price, in a diner atmosphere 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. [...] Waffle House Inc. operates a chain of about 1,400 Waffle House Restaurants located in 25 states. [3]
It is headquartered in unincorporated Gwinnett County, Georgia, near the City of Norcross. [...] For years, Waffle House was known as “Waffle & Steak” in Indiana due to another chain of restaurants owning the rights to the Waffle House name in the state. [...] Waffle House’s response to the study pointed out that they prepare all meals in an open kitchen, and consumers can readily observe their sanitation practices themselves. [...] In 1960, when Rogers asked to buy in to Toddle House, and they refused, he moved back to Atlanta and rejoined Waffle House, now a chain of three restaurants, to run restaurant operations. [...] In 1960, when civil rights demonstrators were picketing many Atlanta businesses, many other businesses closed, but when Rogers saw demonstrators gathering outside a Waffle House, he walked outside, and invited the demonstrators to come in and eat. [4]
Sources:
[1] Waffle House, Durham, NC : Reviews and maps - Yahoo! Local
[2] Waffle House, Lebanon, MO : Reviews and maps - Yahoo! Local
[3] Waffle House, Inc.: Information from Answers.com
[4] Waffle House - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia