Cracker Barrel’s cluttered, antique-filled walls are the latest feature of the restaurant to see a revival.
The chain said Tuesday that it would halt its plans to remodel some stores. It marks the latest backtracking from Cracker Barrel: Last month, the restaurant rolled back a new logo after backlash from customers and President Donald Trump.
“You’ve shared your voices in recent weeks not just on our logo, but also on our restaurants,” the chain said Tuesday as it suspended its renovation plans.
Cracker Barrel had experimented with a new restaurant design in four of its 660 locations, the company said. Ultimately, it decided that the new look “does not reflect what you love about Cracker Barrel.”
“If your restaurant hasn’t been remodeled, you don’t need to worry, it won’t be,” the company said.
Cracker Barrel is the latest brand to stir up controversy with its marketing strategy recently. Apparel retailer American Eagle also faced blowback — and approval from some — over an ad campaign featuring actor Sydney Sweeney.
Cracker Barrel’s history dates back to the 1960s in Tennessee. But lately, the restaurant chain has planned changes to reverse slumping sales.
Last year, CEO Julie Masino said that the chain wasn’t connecting with patrons the way that it used to. “We’re just not as relevant as we once were,” she said on an earnings call in May 2024.
Since then, the chain has made changes, such as adding new menu items. It also rolled back a new logo that didn’t include the likeness of an old man in overalls known as Uncle Herschel. It also experimented with lighter-colored walls and less kitsch on display in its dining rooms at a few locations.
Some longtime Cracker Barrel patrons have said the restaurant chain should focus on its food, telling Business Insider that the quality has slipped compared with earlier decades.
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