Who Owns Waffle House? History & Founding
Waffle House is one of the most recognizable restaurant brands in the Southern United States, but its ownership structure is less well known than the brand itself. Here is who actually owns the company, and how it got started.
Who Owns Waffle House?
Waffle House is a privately held company, not publicly traded, and has remained under the control of the founding families since it was established.
When Was Waffle House Founded?
Waffle House was founded in 1955 by Joe Rogers Sr. and Tom Forkner in Avondale Estates, Georgia, starting from a single restaurant location.
The company has grown from that one location into a chain with locations across the Southern and Eastern United States, while staying privately owned rather than franchising out to public ownership.
Where Is Waffle House Headquartered?
Waffle House is headquartered in Norcross, Georgia, in the same general region where the company was originally founded.
Why Has Waffle House Stayed Private?
The company has deliberately avoided going public, which has let it maintain consistent operations, pricing, and culture across decades without pressure from public shareholders.
History FAQs
Is Waffle House a franchise?
Waffle House operates primarily company-owned locations rather than a traditional franchise model, which is part of why the brand and menu stay so consistent nationwide.
How many Waffle House locations are there?
Waffle House operates well over 1,900 locations across the Southern and Eastern United States, concentrated most heavily in Georgia.
Who currently runs Waffle House?
Waffle House remains under the leadership tied to its founding families, continuing the private ownership structure established at the company’s founding.
Last updated: August 2026. This site is not affiliated with Waffle House.