Waffle House CEO Walt Ehmer dead at 58

He served on the foundation’s board of trustees and has been running the Atlanta-based breakfast chain since 2012.

‘Walt was a dedicated leader, tireless advocate for public safety, and an unwavering supporter of our mission to build a safer, stronger Atlanta,’ according to a statement from the police foundation.

The statement continued: ‘His passion for community service and steadfast commitment to improving the lives of others will leave a lasting impact on all who had the privilege of knowing him. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time. He will be greatly missed.’

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens also released a statement following his death.

‘I am saddened to learn of the passing of Walt Ehmer, the CEO of Waffle House and a proud Georgia Tech alumnus. His leadership, dedication, and warmth touched the lives of many, both within the Waffle House family and beyond,’ Mayor Dickens said.

‘He leaves behind a remarkable legacy. My thoughts are with his family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time. May they find comfort in his enduring impact and the lasting mark he made on so many.’

Georgia Congresswoman Nikema Williams, whose district encompasses the majority of Atlanta, shared her condolences as well.

‘Deeply saddened by the passing of Waffle House CEO Walt Ehmer. His commitment to our communities and the opportunities he created will never be forgotten,’ she wrote on X. ‘Sending heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and the entire Waffle House team during this difficult time.’

The circumstances of Ehmer’s death haven’t been released to the public yet.

Ehmer joined Waffle House in 1992 before quickly rising to senior leadership within the company, according to an interview he did this year with the Georgia Tech Alumni Association after winning its Joseph Mayo Pettit Alumni Distinguished Service Award.

The award honors alumni who have provided outstanding support to the Georgia Tech community and have become leaders in their careers.

According to that same interview, he became Waffle House’s president in 2006, then ascended to the CEO job six years later. He was named chairman of the board in 2022.

He also described his leadership style in a 2020 address to Georgia Tech students.

‘It would be easy for me to sit in my office all day and send a memo out, send out a video, but is that what the business needs? We have 45,000 employees — that’s over 2 million shifts a year that have to be staffed, have to be managed, where we have to treat customers right,’ he said.

‘We are one family,’ he added. ‘Everybody does the same thing, everybody wears one uniform. But uniquely, every restaurant is also its own family.’

Ehmer’s philosophy was put to the test during the COVID-19 pandemic, when lockdowns were destroying the revenue of restaurants large and small.

In response, Ehmer cut his own salary in half along with the rest of senior management to keep Waffle House afloat, Business Insider reported.

‘The stimulus helped a lot of restaurants and more importantly a lot of people early on,’ Ehmer said in November 2020. ‘But, what you can’t value enough is someone’s peace of mind and security that they have a job that they can count on.’

There are now more than 1,900 Waffle House locations across 25 states. The main draw is that all of them are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

He’s been described as an active member of the Atlanta community, serving on the boards of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, the city’s police foundation and the Metro Atlanta Commerce.

Ehmer was also lauded for his response to a young woman who was shot to death inside a Tennessee Waffle House back in 2018.

DeEbony Groves, 21, was singing a gospel song when she died, Ehmer said at her funeral service.

‘We went and visited with the survivors, and they talked about the people who were in that restaurant before what happened happened, and specifically remembered your daughter,’ the CEO told the hundreds of mourners at the First Baptist Church in Gallatin, Tennessee.

He continued: ‘You will get through this because I know by watching this is a very strong, faith-filled community.’

Ehmer’s speech was met with applause and cheering and was embraced by friends and family at the funeral who took comfort in his words.