by Steven Ricard

Are you familiar with Today in Georgia History, the collaborative resource for daily Georgia history events from GPB and The Georgia Historical Society? This weekend, we’ll have another moment to commemorate as Georgia’s newest historical marker is placed by The Georgia Historical Society at the Waffle House Museum.

In 1955, the first Waffle House opened in Avondale Estates, an Atlanta community near Decatur. The name was decided upon by owners and founders Joe Rogers, Sr. and Tom Forkner based on the restaurant’s most popular item, waffles.

The iconic restaurant is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and has over 1,600 locations. Todd Groce, GHS President and CEO, credits the institution for, “the founding and growth of one of our state's most significant and legendary corporations, Waffle House, and the crucial role it has played in fueling the American economy."

Indeed, the restaurant has seen incredible growth in its 57-year history. The marker will be placed on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012, at 1 p.m. at the Waffle House Museum (2719 E. College Ave., Decatur, Ga.).