A restaurant chain known for its antique-looking interior is undergoing a modern makeover — and many of its customers are not welcoming the change.
Cracker Barrel announced it would be updating the interior of its stores, ditching the eclectic, well-worn Southern look in favor of a modern farmhouse aesthetic.
“Come on in!” says Brent, a district manager for Cracker Barrel, in an Instagram video showing an renovated location in Mount Juliet, Tennessee.
He shows viewers around the space with new lighting, tables, seating and even sound buffering in the ceilings.
The old design’s lattice, which used to separate tables and sections, has been replaced with a more open bookcase, and the store’s paint color is now a lighter gray.
Brent remarks how guests have been “amazed at how bright and how open” the space is now.
“We might have refreshed some things and updated a little bit, but don’t you worry, we’re still Cracker Barrel,” he says at the end of the video.
Straight away, people in the comments had mixed reviews for the revamp.
“Brent, NO,” wrote one person.
“I like the old eclectic look and country charm. Don’t change it,” commented another.
While some people said they liked the updated look, most commenters expressed concern.
“Please don’t paint everything Gray!” wrote one customer.
“I love the green walls and [all] the antique and vintage Americana decor. You say you’re trying to appeal to younger customers. Well, my grandchildren and their friends (ages 8 to 17) love going to the original Cracker Barrels with us,” they continued. “I hope we don’t have to make Texas Roadhouse our new favorite restaurant.”
According to a May report in The Wall Street Journal, Cracker Barrel has been slowly revamping stores since its August 2024 announcement.
The company said in March that it aimed to finish remodeling 25 to 30 out of roughly 660 restaurants, and refreshing an additional 25 to 30 locations, by this summer.
Cracker Barrel declined TODAY.com’s request for comment.
While Cracker Barrel has reported an increase in revenue and guest traffic since the remodeling plan was announced, the general sentiment online is that the redesign lacks character.
“Don’t tell me Cracker Barrel is going modern too,” one TikToker wrote on a July 2024 video showing their store, which lacked the typical tchotchkes.
The TikToker expanded on their feelings in the video’s caption: “Unsure about this Cracker Barrel remodel… The booth was comfy and all, but wasn’t your butt going numb in those old wooden chairs a part of the experience?! At least they kept some of the trinkets!”
“Saw something on the internet, dude said that he ate in a remodeled Cracker Barrel, and he hated it, and I want to join in on the hate,” Kevin Fredericks (aka KevOnStage) says in an Aug. 6 video. “This is a gentrified Cracker Barrel. They done took all the character out of it, and I know the edges of the pancake ain’t burnt.”
On the other side of the coin, one Cracker Barrel maintenance worker said on a Reddit post about the remodel that they welcome the change because it helps ease the workload for employees.
“First off, the lattice being taken down is a huge improvement because it collects tons of dust,” the worker wrote. “Not having to deal with that means less dirt buildup and a cleaner atmosphere overall. Same goes for the revamp in the kitchen—new equipment and layouts are making it easier for us to maintain higher standards of cleanliness and efficiency.”
The worker added that the lighter colors and simpler decor of the remodel “aren’t just for looks” but help employees clean more expeditiously. “Try cleaning brown off of a brown wall!”
“This renovation is a fresh step forward toward a better experience for our guests,” they continued. “The store is easier to clean, which means it’s cleaner for you, and I promise, it’s going to feel a lot fresher when you visit!”
Snoop Dogg is teaming up with another iconic dog for a tasty new collab. On July 23, Snoop worked the drive-thru window at a Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers restaurant in Las Vegas.
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