Museum - Waffle House (2024)

FAQs

What is the Waffle House myth? ›

It's an urban myth that Waffle Houses have no locks.

While it's true that Waffle Houses are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year (even on Christmas!), it's not true that the restaurants don't have locks on the doors, according to the Waffle House website.

New Downtown location to be the restaurant chain's largest store. Waffle House has plans to join other Atlanta institutions at Downtown's Centennial Olympic Park with a “showcase” location.

Once inside, you can choose where you would like to sit. You do not have to wait to be seated by a host or hostess. Booths, stools, and tables are available in the dining room. The booths are not as spacious as the tables.

The very first Waffle House opened its doors for the first time Labor Day weekend 1955 in Avondale Estates, Georgia. Now the site of the Waffle House Museum, the interior has been lovingly recreated to capture the look and feel of the original restaurant.

Any seasoned fantasy football player has probably heard of this challenge (losers often have to do it). The rules are simple: stay at a Waffle House for 24 hours and for each waffle you eat, one hour is deducted off of the total time.

For years, Waffle House was known as "Waffle and Steak" in Indiana due to another chain of restaurants owning the rights to the Waffle House name in the state. The original Indiana Waffle House chain has started using the name "Sunshine Cafe".

Day said she's been working on Christmas at Waffle House for 20 years. She said while it's hard work and the busiest day of the year, she enjoys doing it. “It gets more fun the busier it is,” said Day. Many of the employees said they had plans after work to spend time with their families.

Waffle House serves more than 300 strips of bacon a minute. To be more precise, it's 341 strips every 60 seconds. The chain also serves 238 orders of hash browns, 145 waffles, 110 sausage patties, and 127 cups of coffee per minute.

Currently, there are only 25 states that have waffle houses, with the fewest being Illinois and New Mexico (2 store locations each).

Yes, the server keeps all tips including credit card. Also, they do not have to report the tip that were made. Yes, You keep cash tips on you through the shift, Credit card/Online order tips will go in your pocket at the end of the shift.

Do you have to shave to work at Waffle House? ›

Yes you do have to shave? Preferably shaved, but maintained mustaches are okay.

An upside-down mayo packet on or near a butter packet — when the butter packet is on the cook's board, and not a plate — indicates the customer wants a light waffle. A right-side-up mayo packet means a darker waffle. If the butter packet is upside-down, the customer wants a pecan waffle.

While the coffee is born in Central and South America, it is nurtured right here in the United States–at Royal Cup Coffee based in Birmingham, Alabama. That's where Stacy, the roasting manager for Royal Cup, turns 100% Arabica beans into the coffee you drink at Waffle House restaurants.

Waffle House remains a privately held company today — Rogers's son, Joe Rogers Jr., is now the chairman — and does not disclose annual sales figures, but in 2005 the company claimed that it uses two percent of all eggs produced in the U.S.

Waffle House is known for its cheap and hearty morning-time eats, but there's more to the breakfast chain than just bacon, eggs, and smothered hash browns.

For Booth, who worked the night shift for most of the four years she was at Waffle House, there was a simple answer to the question. It comes down to a toxic combination of 24/7 opening hours and alcohol. “People get impulsive at night. That's when you party, that's when you drink,” she says.

Always Open, Always There ⏰

Waffle House is open 24/7, 365 days a year, a rarity back in 1955. This round-the-clock availability has made it a reliable option for late-night travelers and others, contributing significantly to its success.

The Origins of Waffles

Waffles eventually made their way to medieval Europe in the 13th century, where they became a popular treat during religious festivals. The term “waffle” itself is derived from the Dutch word “wafel,” which referred to the honeycomb pattern found on the cakes. But that was then…and this is now.