Waffle House To Open Christmas, New Year's — Of Course

NORCROSS, GA — Maybe you're craving some scattered and smothered goodness as an opening act for your Christmas Day feast. Or maybe the Bumpus hounds stole your turkey.

Either way, if you have a hankering for Waffle House come Christmas Day, the Norcross-based breakfast chain will — of course — be open and ready to serve.

For the 61st year in a row, all Waffle House restaurants will be open on Christmas and New Year's Day, the company announced Wednesday.

That continues a holiday tradition that dates back to 1955, when Joe Rogers, Sr. and Tom Forkner opened the first Waffle House on Labor Day in Avondale Estates.

Since WaHo was intended from the beginning to be a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week restaurant, the pair never considered closing on Christmas.

"If you're going to be a service to the community, you should be there 24 hours a day, every day of the year," said Rogers, who is now 97, in a news release.

Other Waffle House news:

Bad Sign: 25 Waffle Houses Closed Due To Hurricane Matthew

'Clown' Accused of Smoking Meth at Waffle House

Waffle House Waitress Put Meth in Co-Worker's Drink, Police Say

Gang Member Convicted in Waffle House Shooting

"We pride ourselves on being there for our customers, especially during this busy and sometimes stressful holiday season," said Waffle House President and CEO Walt Ehmer. "And many customers have made going to Waffle House a holiday tradition of enjoying the food and fellowship under the yellow sign."

Waffle House runs more than 1,850 restaurants in 25 states and, according to the company, is the world's leading server of waffles, T-bone steaks, hashbrowns, cheese and eggs, country ham, pork chops and grits.

The chain's dedication to its 365-day-a-year status is so well ingrained in the public mind that U.S. disaster officials use what they call "The Waffle House Index" to help assess how bad natural disasters have impacted an area.

Part of the index, which also checks in on businesses like Home Depot, is based on whether Waffle House is open with a full menu, open but serving a limited menu or closed.

Photo courtesy Waffle House Inc.