Jeff Mullins, Owner
- Born Hollis, OK 1968
- Raised Arkansas hillbilly
- Waffle House 1985-Present
- U.S. Army National Guard 1989-1992 (Combat Medical Specialist)
Jeff began work at age twelve doing odd jobs to save for his first car. At sixteen he began is Waffle House career as a grill operator for $3.35/hour (minimum wage at the time). Jeff became the youngest unit manager in Waffle House history at seventeen years old, graduating first in his class at Waffle House University. He was given the opportunity to open the third Waffle House in the Tulsa area, store #598, located on South 49th West Avenue. At thirty-three, while operating as Vice President of Arkansas Waffles, he decided after his seventeenth year under the yellow sign, to take the biggest gamble of his life by taking his life savings and making a down payment on M&M Waffles LLC.
Jeff eventually purchased the entire Tulsa market, coming full circle to where he began his Waffle House management career. In 2002 he formed M&M Waffles LLC soon after the death of his little brother. M&M Waffles LLC is dedicated and in the memory of Michael Mullins (1969-2002).
Mike was born with Spina bifida and hydrocephalus. He never complained or used his handicap as an excuse and went through life determined to prove anyone wrong that insinuated he couldn’t accomplish something. An example of this was his three attempts to join the Army. Mike was, and always will be, an inspiration to all that knew him.
Jeff, Mike, and little sister Tammy, were raised in chaos by a severely alcoholic mother and a total of nine stepfathers. Grandparents, LTC. John and Shirley Tedford, helped raise the children when their mother was no longer capable of caring for them. When Jeff was sixteen, stepdad number seven abandoned the family and took all their money and only car (besides Jeff’s). The family sold everything they had in a weekend garage sale, enabling them to rent a two bedroom apartment with only their clothes, linens, and kitchenware.
Jeff increased his work schedule to sixty to seventy hours per week to care for his handicapped brother, little sister, and mother. Although a good student and athlete, while attempting to attend his fourth high school in one year, Jeff decided to focus on taking care of his family. After a fourteen hour shift that ended at seven am, Jeff had an auto accident when he fell asleep driving to school. Jeff was forced to drop out of high school to care for his family and the rest is history of Waffle House’s from Oklahoma to Alabama and the American Dream.
“When I was young, I never dreamed of being a Waffle House franchisee, I recognized that Waffle House was in the People Business and I took advantage of every opportunity. The Vice-President who had the faith in me to send me to management training at seventeen, although I didn’t meet the age requirement, also told me I could accomplish anything with Waffle House if I treated each store as if I owned it, and now I do. I thank all my past and current associates and customers, without you and Waffle House, none of this would have been possible.” – Jeff Mullins
Please donate to your local children’s charities including St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or the OU Children’s Hospital.
History of Waffle House
When Joe Rogers, Sr. bought a house from Tom Forkner in Avondale Estates, GA., in 1949, neither one knew where that relationship would take them.
It’s the mid 1950’s. Joe Rogers and Tom Forkner were neighbors–Joe working for a national restaurant chain, the Toddle House, and Tom in the local real estate business. Since employee ownership was not available with the Toddle House, the idea of starting a business they could own and share some ownership with each other seemed like a good idea. Joe and Tom wanted to create a restaurant focused on people–both the associates and customers–while serving quality food at a great value.
On Labor Day 1955, their dream became a reality–and an icon was born–when the first Waffle House restaurant opened its doors for business in Avondale Estates, an Atlanta suburb. After Unit 1 opened, there were no plans for another Unit, but the first restaurant established the Waffle House tradition of providing the friendliest service in town. Customer loyalty developed and the business grew steadily. A couple of years later (1957) Unit 2 was acquired and by 1961, there were four small restaurants.
In 1961, Joe left Toddle House and went to work full-time at Waffle House®. Tom went full time soon after. The 1960’s saw the emergence of a restaurant chain focused on customer service with a short order concept and, true to its founding beliefs, shared the ownership generously with management.
The company began to expand and new units were built in Georgia and neighboring states. The “Yellow Sign” soon became a familiar landmark along city streets and interstate highways across the Southeast. Under the guiding philosophy of “better before bigger,” Waffle House restaurants continued to grow in both new and existing markets.
Since day one, each Waffle House® restaurant has provided guests with a unique and comfortable dining experience. At every restaurant, the bright “Yellow Sign” greets customers like an old friend, the jukebox plays a variety of the now famous Waffle House songs and associates give customers a heartfelt greeting as they walk through the door. In addition, each restaurant is open 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year, inspiring urban myths such as “Waffle House doors have no locks.”
Most established businesses of today started as just an idea among a few people with no expectation of great size and success. Joe and Tom did not envision what Waffle House has become, but they stuck by their concept and their belief in shared ownership. Now more than 60 years later, the southern icon has become A Unique American Phenomenon® by serving GOOD FOOD FAST®.
As the Waffle House system celebrates more than 60 years of service, we look forward to making the next generation of customers and associates part of the family. At Waffle House® restaurants, success is measured by one thing–PEOPLE.