I have been a member of the Waffle House Regular Club for about 40 years, which just happens to about be the age of the first one in Fayetteville, in the north end of the city.
A lot of friends accumulated over the years are still sharing coffee together: the Huddlestons, the Cunninghams, Parsons, Bishop, Corcoran, and many more.
Originally most of the servers hired were still there 10 years later. I especially remember Ann, because when she came to work on the second shift, she would bring home grown vegetables which we would cook on the grill.
Birthday parties were always great. We would divvy up who brought what, cartons of ice cream were kept in the counter cooler until after we ate and the party began. We always brought enough donuts so that every customer in the restaurant at the time got one.
No, the menu hasn’t in fact changed much, but the servers now come and go with regularity. Needless to say, we haven’t been able to cook vegetables on the grill for years and those neat birthday parties have long ceased.
One thing new is special coffee mugs available around Christmas – some with just the year on them and now some are available that are in color with a Christmas theme. This year ornaments were for sale with Santa on it, showing the year, and Santa’s hat had Waffle House on it.
Your not going to believe the latest offering from this Georgia company founded 55 years ago: a candlelight supper available with a reservation the night of Feb. 14. This evening specialty is available in eight various states. The restaurant site available in Fayetteville is the one at Ga. Highway 54 and Gingercake Road. Ginger Gaskins is its longtime manager, she is one of two daughters of one of our sheriffs, the late James Jones.
Also available through the internet is a red T-shirt emblazoned on the front: “I love you a Waffle Lot.” Honest, that’s what it says.
Part of the restaurants ad says “Surprise your sweetheart with a romantic candle-lit Waffle House dinner.”
If my spouse or significant other told me he was taking me out that night for a candlelight dinner, and that’s were we went – well, – – – – – I think you know.
