Just Google "waffle house violence" and see what comes up. WAY too much...and it's almost always caused by a certain "local color" of people. Male and female both mix it up big-time. And the other "customers" of the same persuasion sitting around them just calmly move out of the way or look once, then get back to their chowing-down while stuff is thrown and everyone is yelling/screeching at each other -- as it's a regular thing in the 'hood" and they see it all the time. And that's on top of the fisticuffs.
And their "no guns policy" makes no difference re: the amount of violence there -- as if any of the trash "clientele" don't have guns/knives in their hoodies' pockets anyway.
"Ambience" anyone?
When I lived in the Houston area, all the Waffle Houses from Houston to Galveston that I came across were in run-down, crappy "disadvantaged" parts of town. I saw NONE is upscale areas. POSSIBLY a few in "borderline" areas. But MAINLY just in the 'hoods (or barrios), period. What dives -- and the trash that frequented them -- so no wonder the regular violence. I guess that's why they WERE located in those parts of town: To attract "volume customers" -- meaning make $$ on volume, not quality -- regardless of the fact that way too many of them were street-trash & transients with hair triggers. It isn't a matter of IF on any given day a violent incident would happen in a Waffle House store or parking lot, it is simply WHEN it's going to happen.
A Waffle House in the Greater Houston Metroplex area is EXACTLY the kind of place you DO want to carry, I assure you. But I don't get the "business model" or "wisdom" of the Waffle House executives/suits since other safer parts of town would probably make the same kind of $$ for the store (or more) yet be in a better area.
Even here in The Springs, the 1-2 Waffle Houses I passed by aren't in good parts of town, either. NONE are in my part of town.
Of course, at too many Waffle Houses your odds go WAY up that you'll have to shoot someone -- and most of us here don't want the legal hassle that goes along with it (or maybe being the "Guest of Honor" at the immediately following PROTEST out in the parking lot/street) -- so it's best just to stay away. Even some of the chain restaurants/coffee-shops in the area are like that, too: People there who'll want to fight you if you look at them too long or what they consider disrespectfully. I know...came close to shooting one myself (@ a Denny's) -- had he followed me out to the parking lot (I decided to pack up and leave before things got messy, as I told the manager) I WOULD have.
Whatever, I didn't go to any Waffle Houses in the Houston/Galveston area nor do I want to now. Ever. Not worth it...plus I find "disadvantaged parts of town" too damn depressing. Don't need that at all at this "Winter" stage of my life (as if ANYONE needs it at ANY stage) -- life's too short.
Waffle House? No thanks...
...but if anyone here knows of an even MORE dangerous chain "restaurant" to go to, please let me know because presently, I don't think ANYONE beats (pun) Waffle House.
