Cracker Barrel locations plan a makeover to regain relevance and boost sales
- Cracker Barrel is modernizing its restaurants to appeal to a younger demographic and boost sales.
- Changes include lighter paint, brighter decor and fewer antiques.
- Some longtime customers have expressed concerns about the changes to the nostalgic decor on social media.
A longtime staple of Southern-style dining is getting a fresh new look. Could a location near you be up next for a makeover?
Cracker Barrel, known for its rocking chairs, gift shop and comfort food, has been modernizing dozens of its restaurants nationwide to boost sales and appeal to a younger crowd, company leaders told The Wall Street Journal in May.
At least one North Carolina Cracker Barrel has already gotten a makeover.
A Cracker Barrel in Asheville, North Carolina, recently completed a "refresh," with the location temporarily closing on June 24 and reopening July 2, according to the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the Paste BN Network.
Why the changes?
In the first half of 2024, Cracker Barrel's CEO, Julie Felss Masino, said the restaurant was losing its relevancy and in order to stay competitive, it needed to refresh its look and menu. The Wall Street Journal reported that the 54-year-old "Old Country Store" chain plans to remodel 25 to 30 of its 660 locations and refresh another 25 to 30 this summer, with the goal to attract more diners with lighter paint colors, brighter decorations and fewer antiques on the walls.
Masino said the chain’s customer base has declined by more than 15% in the past four years, according to Paste BN.
While some longtime customers have expressed their dismay on social media about changes to the nostalgic decor, Cracker Barrel executives are betting on the new look to attract new diners ‒ especially as many regulars have been slow to return since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Journal.
Lizmary Evans reports for the Fayetteville Observer.
Reporter Lizmary Evans covers dining, retail, entertainment and culture for The Fayetteville Observer. You can reach her at LEvans@gannett.com.