FOUNDER OF WAFFLE HOUSE DIES

Joe Rogers, who co-founded the Waffle House chain of U.S. roadside diners, has died, on March 3rd. He was 97. A former short-order cook and restaurant manager, Rogers teamed with real estate broker Thomas Forkner in 1955 to open their first quick-service, limited menu restaurant in Avondale Estates, Georgia, outside Atlanta. Rogers had to persuade his partner Forkner to keep Waffle House open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year from the start. Waffle House grew to more than 1,800 locations in 25 mostly southern states. The restaurant famously only took cash, until 2006 when they first started accepting credit cards. The diners attracted truckers, late-night revelers and Sunday church-goers. “We are not in the food business,” Rogers often said. “We are in the people business.”
* Mmmmm … peeeeople …
* So they like putting maple syrup on people too?
* That’s kind of kinky.
* How about a little whipped cream? Now you’re talkin’.
* Wow, 97 and he just gives out? Where’s the dedication?
* Does International House of Pancakes have an alibi?
* I do love the fact that he was a short order cook who grew it into a huge empire.
* When it comes to waffles, nobody did it batter.
* Not to be a pain but it says “limited menu.” Aren’t all menus limited in a way? Otherwise you could order anything.
* PHONE TOPIC: Lots of crazy things happen at Waffle house. Tell us your Waffle House story.