Joseph Wilson Rogers (November 30, 1919 – March 3, 2017) was an American businessman. He was co-founder and former CEO of the Waffle House franchise restaurant chain, which began business in 1955 in Georgia, and has grown to over 2,100 locations in 25 states.
Forkner pressed Rogers to go into business together for a quick-service, sit-down restaurant in Avondale.[7][8] Forkner later recalled Rogers telling him, "You build a restaurant and I’ll show you how to run it."[5] Forkner suggested a Toddle House, but Rogers felt the chain wasn't proper for the market.[7] After Forkner secured the property,[7] the pair developed the concept of the Waffle House together: Forkner proposed the name, while Rogers suggested keeping a 24-hour schedule.[9]
Waffle House
This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(March 2017)
The first Waffle House opened on Labor Day weekend 1955, at 2719 East College Avenue in Avondale Estates, Georgia.[6] The restaurant was named after the most profitable item on the 16-item menu.[5] The fragile nature of waffles also made the point that it was a dine-in, not a carry-out, restaurant, but it confused patrons as to meal availability other than breakfast.[5]
Rogers continued to work with Toddle House, and to avoid conflict of interest sold his interest to Forkner in 1956.[4] In 1960, when Rogers asked to buy into Toddle House, and they refused, he moved back to Atlanta and rejoined Waffle House, now a chain of three restaurants, to run restaurant operations.[4] Shortly after Rogers returned full-time, Forkner followed suit and left Ben S. Forkner Realty.[10]
After opening a fourth restaurant in 1960, the company began franchising its restaurants[5] and slowly grew to 27 stores by the late 1960s, before growth accelerated.[5] As of 2017, there are over 2,100 locations in 25 states. The company is privately held and doesn't disclose annual sales figures, but says they serve 2% of the eggs used in the nation's food service industry.[5] The founders limited their involvement in management, Joe Rogers Jr. is Chairman, and Walt Ehmer is president and CEO.[11]
Personal life
He was married to Ruth Jolley Rogers for 74 years, and she survived him.[12] They had four children, two girls and two boys, and their eldest son, Joe Rogers Jr. became CEO of Waffle House in 1973.[2]
Death
Rogers died on March 3, 2017 at the age of 97 in Atlanta.[13][14]
^ abcdAuchmutey, Jim (September 2, 2008). . The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on September 5, 2017. Retrieved 2009-02-27.
^ abSchemmel, William (2007). You Know You're in Georgia When...: 101 Quintessential Places, People, Events, Customs, Lingo, and Eats of the Peach State. Globe Pequot. p. 99. ISBN978-0-7627-4131-1.
^"Waffle House turns 50, but goods still going like hotcakes". USA Today. Associated Press. 2005-08-12. Retrieved 2009-02-27.
^Sorvino, Chloe. "Waffle House Chairman Joe Rogers Jr. Debuts As A Billionaire As Restaurant Industry Digs Out From Wreckage". Forbes.
^"Waffle House co-founder Joe Rogers Sr. dies at 97". chicagotribune.com. Associated Press. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
^Stephen Miller (2017-03-06). "Joe Rogers, Who Built Waffle House Chain With Grits, Dies at 97". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2017-03-08.
^"Joseph W. Rogers, a Founder of Waffle House, Dies at 97". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
January 23, 2023
rogers, businessman, joseph, wilson, rogers, november, 1919, march, 2017, american, businessman, founder, former, waffle, house, franchise, restaurant, chain, which, began, business, 1955, georgia, grown, over, locations, states, rogersbornjoseph, wilson, roge. Joseph Wilson Rogers November 30 1919 March 3 2017 was an American businessman He was co founder and former CEO of the Waffle House franchise restaurant chain which began business in 1955 in Georgia and has grown to over 2 100 locations in 25 states Joe RogersBornJoseph Wilson RogersNovember 30 1919Jackson Tennessee U S DiedMarch 3 2017 aged 97 Atlanta Georgia U S OccupationBusinessmanKnown forco founder and former CEO of Waffle HouseSpouseRuth Jolley RogersChildren4 including Joe Rogers Jr Contents 1 Early years 2 Waffle House 3 Personal life 4 Death 5 See also 6 ReferencesEarly years EditBorn in 1919 in Jackson Tennessee 1 he grew up there at 291 W Deaderick Street and graduated from Jackson High School in 1938 2 During World War II Rogers served in the United States Army Air Corps as a B 24 pilot reaching the rank of captain 3 Rogers started in the restaurant business as a short order cook in 1947 at the Toddle House in New Haven Connecticut 4 By 1949 he had become a regional manager with the now defunct Memphis based restaurant chain and moved to Atlanta 5 There he met Tom Forkner whom he bought a house from in the Atlanta suburb of Avondale Estates 6 7 8 Forkner pressed Rogers to go into business together for a quick service sit down restaurant in Avondale 7 8 Forkner later recalled Rogers telling him You build a restaurant and I ll show you how to run it 5 Forkner suggested a Toddle House but Rogers felt the chain wasn t proper for the market 7 After Forkner secured the property 7 the pair developed the concept of the Waffle House together Forkner proposed the name while Rogers suggested keeping a 24 hour schedule 9 Waffle House EditThis section needs to be updated Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information March 2017 This Waffle House in Fort Worth Texas is near the Texas Motor Speedway The first Waffle House opened on Labor Day weekend 1955 at 2719 East College Avenue in Avondale Estates Georgia 6 The restaurant was named after the most profitable item on the 16 item menu 5 The fragile nature of waffles also made the point that it was a dine in not a carry out restaurant but it confused patrons as to meal availability other than breakfast 5 Rogers continued to work with Toddle House and to avoid conflict of interest sold his interest to Forkner in 1956 4 In 1960 when Rogers asked to buy into Toddle House and they refused he moved back to Atlanta and rejoined Waffle House now a chain of three restaurants to run restaurant operations 4 Shortly after Rogers returned full time Forkner followed suit and left Ben S Forkner Realty 10 After opening a fourth restaurant in 1960 the company began franchising its restaurants 5 and slowly grew to 27 stores by the late 1960s before growth accelerated 5 As of 2017 there are over 2 100 locations in 25 states The company is privately held and doesn t disclose annual sales figures but says they serve 2 of the eggs used in the nation s food service industry 5 The founders limited their involvement in management Joe Rogers Jr is Chairman and Walt Ehmer is president and CEO 11 Personal life EditHe was married to Ruth Jolley Rogers for 74 years and she survived him 12 They had four children two girls and two boys and their eldest son Joe Rogers Jr became CEO of Waffle House in 1973 2 Death EditRogers died on March 3 2017 at the age of 97 in Atlanta 13 14 See also EditPortals Biography Food Georgia U S state References Edit Waffle House co founder Joe Rogers dead at 97 ajc com 2017 03 06 Retrieved 2017 03 08 a b Jackson is home to co founder of Waffle House jacksonsun com Retrieved 24 April 2018 Waffle House co founder Joe Rogers Sr dies at 97 chicagotribune com Retrieved 20 November 2019 a b c title Joe Rogers profile The cornerstone of Waffle House publisher ajc com date 2004 12 24 Atlanta Journal Constitution December 24 2004 a b c d e f g Waffle House still dishin diner food at 50 15 August 2005 a b Waffle House history Archived 2012 04 15 at the Wayback Machine a b c d Auchmutey Jim September 2 2008 Waffle House history a recipe for museum success The Atlanta Journal Constitution Archived from the original on September 5 2017 Retrieved 2009 02 27 a b Schemmel William 2007 You Know You re in Georgia When 101 Quintessential Places People Events Customs Lingo and Eats of the Peach State Globe Pequot p 99 ISBN 978 0 7627 4131 1 Waffle House turns 50 but goods still going like hotcakes USA Today Associated Press 2005 08 12 Retrieved 2009 02 27 History of Waffle House populartimelines com Sorvino Chloe Waffle House Chairman Joe Rogers Jr Debuts As A Billionaire As Restaurant Industry Digs Out From Wreckage Forbes Waffle House co founder Joe Rogers Sr dies at 97 chicagotribune com Associated Press Retrieved 24 April 2018 Stephen Miller 2017 03 06 Joe Rogers Who Built Waffle House Chain With Grits Dies at 97 Bloomberg Retrieved 2017 03 08 Joseph W Rogers a Founder of Waffle House Dies at 97 The New York Times Retrieved 7 March 2017 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Joe Rogers businessman amp oldid 1134319927, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
