Customers revolt after family-friendly
restaurant chain unveils bold new look
Daily Mail (UK),
by
Sonya Gugliaria
Original Article
Posted By: zephyrgirl,
8/11/2025 9:07:17 AM
Cracker Barrel has found itself in hot water as the cherished food chain flaunts its new look - and loyal customers bemoan the lack of classic rustic charm. Locations of the Southern-themed restaurant and gift shop have been ditching their nostalgic and eclectic interiors for more modern decor since last year. A video shared by Cracker Barrel last August captioned 'New look, same Cracker Barrel!! We can't wait for you to visit' shows a Mount Juliet, Tennessee location - one of the first to undergo drastic renovations. 'We might have refreshed some things and updated a little bit, but don't worry, we're still Cracker Barrel!'
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Reply 1 - Posted by:
konocti95 8/11/2025 9:15:28 AM (No. 1989177)
Good Grief! The next thing you know, the Waffle House will start cooking pancakes!
25 people like this.
Reply 2 - Posted by:
bgarrett 8/11/2025 9:18:42 AM (No. 1989179)
Cracker barrel will never get my money. They will not allow anyone to wear a kepi in their store
10 people like this.
Reply 3 - Posted by:
David Key 8/11/2025 9:42:10 AM (No. 1989189)
We're talk8ng about getting together next month with family for mom's b-day. Cracker barrel came up and all of were negative about the changes. Cracker barrel in the past had been at the top of the list.
7 people like this.
Reply 4 - Posted by:
Anaverageguy 8/11/2025 9:58:41 AM (No. 1989200)
Woke marketing is destroying companies faster than anything. Know your customer base. They want the ambiance, feelings it brings and your food. Mess with that recipe and suffer the consequences...
18 people like this.
Reply 5 - Posted by:
jalo1951 8/11/2025 10:15:59 AM (No. 1989209)
Don't mess with success. Memo quote from the CEO who approved New Coke.
17 people like this.
Reply 6 - Posted by:
Jesuslover54 8/11/2025 10:30:22 AM (No. 1989217)
Taken over by some minimalist money people from New York. Look at the pic of the new CEO. 'Nuf said.
7 people like this.
Reply 7 - Posted by:
earlybird 8/11/2025 10:30:37 AM (No. 1989218)
As a former restaurant owner, I wonder if the change in decor had to do with keeping their restaurants clean. They looked very "busy"; the new decor looks a bit more sleek. Trellis-work is a dust/dirt collector and virtually impossible to keep clean. The menu changes are another story They usually have to do with cost increases that would cause menu price increases that patrons find unacceptable.
Where are these restaurants located?
11 people like this.
Reply 8 - Posted by:
Jesuslover54 8/11/2025 10:31:27 AM (No. 1989219)
They've never eaten fried catfish.
2 people like this.
Reply 9 - Posted by:
erod111 8/11/2025 10:34:18 AM (No. 1989220)
I understand why these changes are being made. I have been to CB for many years, so I know what they have always been about. Before the pandemic, I invested in CB stock when it was well over $170.00 per share. Since then, the price has continually fallen. Today it is at $57.00 dollars a share, which means I have taken a big hit. The pandemic ruined a lot of businesses but CB has persevered. I always believed the gift shop was overstocked and cluttered. Considering the cost of commercial square footage, I doubt the profits from the gift shop were breaking even. I have seen several restaurants go out of business. One clue is that ownership stopped caring. You could tell by how run down the place had become, the same old same old going to rot. The changes at CB will not affect the fabulous food, including the biscuits and cornbread and white gravy on country chicken. CB should be applauded for daring to upgrade.
5 people like this.
Reply 10 - Posted by:
Bur Oak 8/11/2025 10:44:01 AM (No. 1989224)
I hate their cluttered crowded gift shop.
8 people like this.
Reply 11 - Posted by:
planetgeo 8/11/2025 10:54:24 AM (No. 1989231)
Another woke marketing genius move. Yeah, let's rename it Crackhead Barrel! That'll really bring in our most loyal customers.
4 people like this.
Reply 12 - Posted by:
Vitaman 8/11/2025 10:58:47 AM (No. 1989233)
Big surprise. A Girl Boss is going to fix the company by making fundamental changes. How long will she last? My guess? Not long.
9 people like this.
Reply 13 - Posted by:
earlybird 8/11/2025 11:39:52 AM (No. 1989244)
The "new" female CEO took over two years ago when the previous female CEO "stepped down".
6 people like this.
The country-fried steak was one of my favorites until they replaced the steak with a pre-frozen, rubbery blob and the gravy with a cement mix. Yuck! I've had better TV dinners.
5 people like this.
Reply 15 - Posted by:
nelsonted1 8/11/2025 11:56:50 AM (No. 1989262)
My only real complaint was lack of sound deafening material in the ceiling. If people are hard of hearing its almost impossible to hear people across the table
4 people like this.
Reply 16 - Posted by:
moebellini3 8/11/2025 11:58:43 AM (No. 1989265)
People have to get a grip on things. I go there to order french toast and a cup of coffee, not to admire old dirty tools or fishing rods hanging on a dusty wall. Got it.
5 people like this.
Reply 17 - Posted by:
voxpopuli 8/11/2025 12:14:41 PM (No. 1989276)
any truth to the rumor that the new girl CEO is waiting
for her new jAGUAR Woke-Mobile next year while
drinking bUD LlTE
3 people like this.
Reply 18 - Posted by:
billsv 8/11/2025 12:21:30 PM (No. 1989280)
Our biggest issue with them is the noise. Turn off the music for gosh sakes
3 people like this.
Reply 19 - Posted by:
hershey 8/11/2025 12:35:24 PM (No. 1989287)
Thats what you get when you put a college educated female in charge...she certainly didn't come through the ranks...
I still love the food, but the decor has been 'wokeized'....
4 people like this.
Reply 20 - Posted by:
cny 8/11/2025 1:16:28 PM (No. 1989323)
I think it looks better. Cleaner, less cluttered, but still friendly and home-like.
3 people like this.
Reply 21 - Posted by:
rytwng 8/11/2025 1:56:55 PM (No. 1989358)
Their food isn't as good as it used to be.
4 people like this.
Reply 22 - Posted by:
earlybird 8/11/2025 2:34:12 PM (No. 1989384)
CEO Massino has 30 years of experience but it doesn't appear to be a fit for CB.
https://investor.crackerbarrel.com/management/julie-felss-masino
2 people like this.
Reply 23 - Posted by:
chumley 8/11/2025 2:54:21 PM (No. 1989398)
I always got good food there, and the staff was always very nice. You'd almost believe they liked you. And I loved the old decorations. Antique farm equipment, kitchen gadgets, guns and steel signs. Probably all fake, but fun to look at nevertheless. While the gift shops had some unique items and I've bought a few over the years, it was all seriously overpriced.
I may give this new thing a try. They at least deserve a shot.
4 people like this.
Reply 24 - Posted by:
DVC 8/11/2025 3:37:37 PM (No. 1989429)
Have not been in one in years. Much too big portions for us doesn't fit for us.
1 person likes this.
Reply 25 - Posted by:
Timber Queen 8/11/2025 6:14:11 PM (No. 1989506)
The new CEO wears Rachel Maddow type glasses. Hmmmm?
2 people like this.
Reply 26 - Posted by:
earlybird 8/11/2025 6:25:24 PM (No. 1989513)
Good going #23! That's the spirit. As for big portions, we just split or take some home. Thre loudness of the music would ne a major turnoff though most restaurants will turn it down upon request. I could live forever without contrived kitschy decor.
I do have a question: Why do folks go to restaurants wanting to get food just like they get at home and are then disappointed?
1 person likes this.
Reply 27 - Posted by:
David Key 8/11/2025 8:00:14 PM (No. 1989539)
Can you say Bud lite? Sure you can, I know you can! One question. Did this yuppie, yeah I know this dates me, regularly eat at CB before she became whatever it is she does. Second question did they survey there customers before they did this. The very way they introduced their "new look" shows that they did and got a whole bunch of negative feedback. All they need now is to hire some androgynous influencer to make our joy complete.
1 person likes this.
Reply 28 - Posted by:
anniebc 8/11/2025 8:24:06 PM (No. 1989549)
The food hasn't been all that great for a while, but I miss the fireballs, jawbreakers, and Mary Janes that used to come in pint jars. What happened? Oh, and the taffy.
1 person likes this.
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First CB got rid of maple syrup, then pulled pork BBQ. When they substituted sage stuffing for cornbread stuffing, I quit ordering turkey and stuffing. The last time we went, my DH's chicken and dumplings was mostly dumplings. We don't plan on going back.