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Daisy, waitressing at a Waffle House on 10 Highway, Baton Rouge. One of the joys of a road trip is in the many original diners. Built in the 1950s, they still remain unchanged, with all the original fittings and fixtures, Happy Days style. (Photo by Louis Quail/In Pictures Ltd./Corbis via Getty Images)

ATLANTA - On Sept. 5, 1955, a small yellow-signed diner opened its doors in Avondale Estates, Georgia. Seventy years later, that single Waffle House has grown into a cultural institution with nearly 2,000 restaurants across 25 states.

What we know:

Founded by Joe Rogers Sr., a restaurant manager, and Tom Forkner, a real estate agent, the chain built its reputation on serving hearty food 24 hours a day, seven days a week. While waffles gave the restaurant its name, it

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