In 1949, Tom Forkner, a real estate businessman, sold a home to Joe Rogers, Sr. near his own in Avondale Estates, leading to the two founders meeting and becoming friends.

The very first Waffle House opened on Labor Day weekend in 1955, specifically on September 3rd.

On Labor Day in 1955, the first Waffle House restaurant opened in Avondale Estates, Georgia. Co-founders Joe Rogers, Sr., and Tom Forkner established it as a 24-hour sit-down eatery with a focus on customer service.

In 1956, Joe Rogers Sr., who was associated with Toddle House, handed over his stake in Waffle House to Tom Forkner to prevent conflicts of interest.

The second Waffle House location opened in 1957 in Midtown Atlanta, originally known as Wagon Wheel. It was situated on the ground floor of the Southern Bell Office building at 10th and Peachtree. The building has since been demolished and the site is now part of the Margaret Mitchell House property.

The third Waffle House location opened in 1958 at 3198 Glenwood Rd in the Candler-Glenwood Shopping Center. Initially, there were no plans to expand beyond the first restaurant, but this location marked the beginning of Waffle House's expansion. It was situated in a small strip mall on the corner of Candler and Glenwood Road.

In 1959, Waffle House opened its fourth restaurant at 1244 Clairmont Road in Decatur. The building where this location was established still exists today.

In 1960, Waffle House started franchising its establishments, leading to rapid growth with 27 stores by the late 1960s.

In 1961, Avondale Estates contractor Paul Schulte built the first standalone Waffle House on Moreland Avenue in East Atlanta. The unique design featured an A-frame roof and grey brick exterior.

In 1962, the seventh Waffle House location opened in East Point at 1674 Washington St. It introduced the familiar yellow color scheme and 'shoebox' design, allowing for more seating and an expanded prep area.

The first Waffle House location in Avondale Estates, Georgia, which opened in 1955, now serves as the Waffle House Museum. In the early days, it also offered Chick-Fil-A sandwiches to customers.

Waffle House #11 opened in 1966 at 4966 Buford Highway in Chamblee and operated until 2011.

By 1967, Waffle House had grown into a $3,000,000 business with 25 franchises spread across three states. This rapid expansion was fueled by the franchising model adopted by the company.

The transformation of the first Waffle House into a museum occurred between September 3, 1955, and January 1, 1980.

In 2007, the original Waffle House restaurant, divested in the early 1970s, was reacquired and transformed into an internal corporate museum.

In 2008, the original Waffle House location in Avondale Estates was reopened as a museum, offering visitors a nostalgic journey back to the 1950s and showcasing the history of the iconic restaurant chain.

In 2017, the founders of Waffle House, Tom Forkner and Joe Rogers Sr., passed away, leaving behind a legacy of creating a nationwide phenomenon with over 1,500 locations known for their community-oriented approach and comfort food offerings.

Waffle House, a prominent American restaurant chain, delved into the music industry by establishing its own record label called Waffle Records. The label featured songs that were carefully curated to maintain a non-commercial sound and were played on Waffle House jukeboxes.