This campus and the greater community lack one of the most important cultural focal points of any city–Waffle House. A 24/7 diner with cheap food, endless coffee, a jukebox, wifi and the occasional fist-fight is a must-have for a thriving college-town culture.

The old La-Z-Boy building across the street from Lucero is the ideal spot. It currently sits empty with unsightly chain link fences around the perimeter to prevent the unhoused from sleeping under the arches. It was last sold for $100,000 in 1994 and is currently valued at about $1.6 million according to Mesa County Assessors. The people that own it are paying about $30,000 a year in taxes for it to sit empty when it could be a Maison de Gaufre.

This pivotal pit stop is a communal binding agent. It would give a centralized space to build community and bridge the gap between CMU and the rest of Grand Junction. Drunk college students stumbling back to campus after dancing at Quincy’s all night would converge with drunk community members stumbling home from their friend’s house party. It would be beautiful.

Not to mention, whoever does make the wise decision to turn this lot into a Waffle House would likely see returns on their investment rather quickly. There’s a reason this chain has existed since 1955—through multiple wars, turbulent economic conditions and a global pandemic—people love it.

According to an analysis by Vetted Biz, the average annual revenue for any given Waffle House is around $655,000. They say that this “solid financial performance” highlights a “consistent customer appeal and stable revenue potential.” With about $1 million in initial investment, this site could turn a profit in under two years which is actually insane for a restaurant.

Melanie Splatt for Touch Bistro wrote that most restaurant owners don’t turn a profit in the first year. In fact, restaurant owners shouldn’t expect a real profit until three to five years pass. 80% of restaurants fail within the first five years. Waffle House just makes sense.

One might think, “Grand Junction has First Watch, The Village Inn and Denny’s, why would we need a Waffle House?” That’s sound logic on the surface but there are few key distinctions that set Casa de Gofre apart from the others.

First and foremost, it is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The only exception to that rule is what the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) refers to as the “Waffle House Index.” When weather is severe enough, like during a hurricane, Waffle House will close but because it spends next-to-nothing on advertising, the marketing strategy relies on consistent and constant availability. That means when it closes, things are serious.

Thankfully, Grand Junction rarely sees severe enough weather for a Waffle House to close. There are no 24/7 establishments with interior seating anywhere in the city and that contributes to a rather boring or underground afterlife. When the bars close at 2 a.m., the party either stops or goes into private spaces. Waffle House would change that.

Next, the experience at Waffle House is notoriously entertaining. Other breakfast establishments simply can not compete with the atmosphere curated through the open kitchen between a scruffy line-cook and a well-worn waiter. I have witnessed discussions flare into fist-fights and settled with a shared cigarette in a matter of minutes at a Waffle House. Those moments are sociologically, psychologically and culturally valuable.

Finally, Waffle House food is killer. The food is an autist’s dream because they rarely change the ingredients so once a comfort food is found, it will remain consistent. The coffee is the perfect blend of watery and flavorless that makes it delicious and sets the bar high for bad diner coffee. The waffles are crisp, the eggs cooked any style and the burgers are greasier than a pubescent boy’s hair.

Memories made at a Waffle House are part of a larger cultural connection between simple food, unpretentious vibes and an atmosphere of genuine human interaction. For many, Waffle House is more than that, it is a Waffle Home. Raze the La-Z-Boy building and give the kids what they really want–authenticity with a flair for drama. Let them eat waffles.