Avondale Estates in DeKalb County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

The Waffle House

Photographed By David Seibert, September 8, 2012

1. The Waffle House Marker

Inscription. At this location, 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, seven days a week. In 2004 Waffle House reacquired the original restaurant building and opened it as a museum in 2008.

Erected 2012 by Georgia Historical Society, the Waffle House, the City of Avondale Estates, and the Avondale Estates Downtown Development Authority. (Marker Number 44-2.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Georgia Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1955.

Location. 33° 46.467′ N, 84° 16.7′ W. Marker is in Avondale Estates, Georgia, in DeKalb County. Marker is at the intersection of East College Avenue (U.S. 278) and Hillmont Avenue, on the right when

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traveling east on East College Avenue. The markers stands adjacent to the front door of the original Waffle House, now the Waffle House Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2719 East College Avenue, Avondale Estates GA 30002, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Gutzon Borglum House (approx. 0.7 miles away); Agnes Lee Chapter House UDC (approx. 0.7 miles away); July 22, 1864 (approx. 0.8 miles away); Historic Decatur Cemetery (approx. 0.8 miles away); During the Battle of Decatur (approx. one mile away); The Stoneman Raid (approx. one mile away); DeKalb County Confederate Monument Contextualization (approx. one mile away); Indian Trails of Dekalb County (approx. one mile away).

Photographed By David Seibert, September 8, 2012

2. The Waffle House Marker

The Waffle House Marker Dedication image. Click for full size.

Photographed By David Seibert, September 8, 2012

3. The Waffle House Marker Dedication

The marker prior to dedication

Photographed By David Seibert, September 8, 2012

4. The Waffle House Marker Dedication

The marker was dedicated on September 9, 2012, at this site: the first Waffle House, now the company's museum.

Photographed By David Seibert, September 8, 2012

5. The Waffle House Marker Dedication

Pat Warner, Waffle House Director of Culture, welcomed a large crowd of attendees to the dedication.

Photographed By David Seibert, September 8, 2012

6. The Waffle House Marker Dedication

Ed Rieker, Mayor of Avondale Estates, welcomed attendees to the dedication.

Photographed By David Seibert, September 8, 2012

7. The Waffle House Marker Dedication

Robert L. Brown, Chairman of the Georgia Historical Society Board of Curators, was one of the featured speakers at the dedication.

Photographed By David Seibert, September 8, 2012

8. The Waffle House Marker Dedication

Walt Ehmer, President and CEO of Waffle House, introduced the founders of the company.

Photographed By David Seibert, September 8, 2012

9. The Waffle House Marker Dedication

Tom Forkner, one of the two founders of Waffle House, reminisces about how he and Joe Rogers, Sr., founded the chain.

Photographed By David Seibert, September 8, 2012

10. The Waffle House Marker Dedication

Robert Brown, Tom Forkner, Joe Rogers, Sr., and Mayor Ed Rieker prepare to unveil the marker.

Photographed By David Seibert, September 8, 2012

11. The Waffle House Marker Dedication

The marker unveiled

Photographed By David Seibert, September 8, 2012

12. The Waffle House Marker Dedication

Tom Forkner and Joe Rogers, Sr., founders of Waffle House, with the marker

The Waffle House Founders image. Click for full size.

Photographed By David Seibert, September 8, 2012

13. The Waffle House Founders

A photo of founders Tom Forkner and Joe Rogers., Sr. on the wall behind the counter in the museum.

A Cultural Icon in the South image. Click for full size.

Photographed By David Seibert, September 8, 2012

14. A Cultural Icon in the South

Credits. This page was last revised on June 8, 2020. It was originally submitted on September 9, 2012, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. This page has been viewed 1,062 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. submitted on September 9, 2012, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.