Waffle House

Joe Rogers, Sr., and Tom Forkner open the first Waffle House restaurant in Avondale Estates, Georgia. The company operates 351 franchisees in addition to its network of company-owned stores. By now, more than 90 lawsuits related to civil rights infractions and sexual harassment have been filed against the company. buried in the sand, where racial discrimination and sexual harassment complaints go virtually ignored." According to a 2000 Nation's Restaurant News article, Joe Rogers, Jr., claimed that Waffle House had "successfully addressed growth, diversity, and many challenges throughout our 44-year history." Nevertheless, its critics argued that Waffle House was turning its back on its corporate responsibility to provide a restaurant free of racial and gender discrimination. The company's policy of remaining extremely tight-lipped also came under fire, as many began to question the company's intentions. Despite its litigation woes, Waffle House remained dedicated to maintaining its position as one of the leaders in the family-style restaurant sector. Determined to continue its tradition of serving "good food fast," the firm pushed forward with expansion plans. By 2002, there were more than 1,375 restaurants in 25 states. In fiscal 2003, that number climbed to more than 1,400 units, with sales topping out at $410 million. Touting itself as "America's Place to Work. America's Place to Eat," Waffle House appeared to be on the track for continued growth well into the future. Regardless of the claims made against the company, its management team remained focused on solidifying its market strength in the southern region of the United States. With nearly 419 million waffles served since its beginnings in 1955 and more than 80 million cups of coffee handed out each year, Waffle House was poised to remain a favorite among its customers in the years to come. Waffle House, according to information released in 1995 for the company's 40th anniversary, began as the dream of two neighbors, Joe Rogers, Sr., and Tom Forkner, who envisioned a company dedicated to both its customers and employees. The partners wanted to create a place where friends and neighbors could get together to enjoy good food served with a friendly smile. On Labor Day in 1955 they opened the first Waffle House restaurant in Avondale Estates, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. The first Waffle House restaurant was a smash, and the owners soon opened other Waffle House eateries throughout Georgia. Waffle House made a name for itself during the late 1950s and 1960s by living up to its promise of "Good Food Fast," which became one of the company's mottos. Waffle House located many of its restaurants along interstates, and truckers and travelers came to know that the Waffle House sign meant good food and friendly service. The company eventually spread outside of Georgia's borders and into neighboring states including Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida. As the U.S. interstate system expanded throughout the Southeast during the 1950s and 1960s, new Waffle House outlets were added along major arteries like Interstate 75, which trails from the southern tip of Florida through Tennessee to northern Michigan, and Interstate 85, which traverses Virginia and extends southwest into Alabama. Waffle House eventually built up a network of several hundred restaurants throughout the Southeast. Waffle House also began franchising its name and concept to individual operators, which allowed the company to expand without assuming heavy debt and without having to sell shares to the public. Keeping Waffle House private was very important to its owners, because taking the company public would have required them to release financial and operating information. "There are three types of companies," explained Bryan Elliott, analyst at Robinson-Humphrey, in the September 19, 1988 Atlanta Business Chronicle. "There are public companies that trade stock and have to share i