Cracker Barrel is facing criticism as it unveils a revamped look, leaving longtime customers missing the traditional rustic charm they’ve come to love.
Since last year, the Southern-styled restaurant and gift shop chain has been swapping out its nostalgic and varied interior styles for a more updated, modern appearance.
In a video posted by Cracker Barrel last August with the caption ‘New look, same Cracker Barrel!! We can’t wait for you to visit,’ a location in Mount Juliet, Tennessee was highlighted as one of the first to receive these significant changes.
Brent, a cheerful district manager featured in the video, mentioned, “We might have refreshed some things and updated a bit, but don’t worry, we’re still Cracker Barrel!”
He described with excitement that the gift shop and dining areas were brightened up, the furniture was swapped out, and the familiar lattices were replaced with modern bookshelves.
To ensure a quieter dining environment, sound buffers were added to the ceiling. Brent emphasized that despite these changes, the classic essence of Cracker Barrel was preserved, showcasing a wall of traditional favorites like a deer head, a clock, and other trinkets above a fireplace.
While the eager manager said guests were loving the new and improved restaurant, the post’s comment section demonstrates otherwise.
And while these remodeling pursuits began more than a year ago, people are now starting to pick up on the extreme changes, forcefully pushing for Cracker Barrel to stick to its roots.
Cracker Barrel has found itself in hot water as the cherish food chain flaunts its new look – which loyal customers say lacks the restaurant’s classic rustic charm (pictured: a non-revamped Cracker Barrel)
Cracker Barrel’s CEO Julie Felss Masino (pictured) took over the massive brand in 2023 after the previous president, Sandra Cochran, stepped down
‘Change it back, now!’ one user commented under the Mount Juliet post from last summer.
‘Exactly nobody wanted this,’ another critic of the redesign chimed in.
One man, who believes the chain has strayed too far from its Southern appeal, wrote: ‘What’s next? Change the name to Yankee Barrel! I will not be returning.’
‘Now it looks like any other restaurant,’ another patron disappointedly added.
Other clips featuring clutter-free Crack Barrels have caught flack as well.
In a Sunday video about a dessert menu item, the S’mores Skillet, customers caught a glimpse of the minimalistic shop and dining room in the background.
‘Can we please go back to the original look? The nostalgia is gone,’ one woman wrote, adding a frowning emoji.
‘Surely there is another approach to bringing in more customers.’
Videos of renovated Cracker Barrels (pictured) have sparked strong reactions from patrons
Brent enthusiastically detailed how the gift store (pictured) and dining room were made brighter, the furniture was replaced and the iconic lattices were ditched for sleek bookshelves
‘Absolutely hate the renovations. Please do not take away the character that makes it so special and cozy,’ someone pleaded.
‘I don’t want another bland box store type restaurant. Keep the original looks.’
Along with commenting on Cracker Barrel’s social media pages, people have been sharing their strong remodeling opinions in TikToks devoted to slamming the new design.
While social media is apparently in a frenzy over the change, not everyone is repulsed by the updated interior design.
Some users have actually swooped in to defend the chain, which was founded in Tennessee in 1969.
‘Looks great and fresh,’ one proponent said about the Mount Juliet site. Another said it looked ‘much more open than cramped.’
Others said how the classically cramped nature of the chain made getting around a tad bit tricky.
A wall of ‘staples’ featuring a deer head, a clock and other knick-knacks over a fireplace remained at the renovated Mount Juliet store (pictured)
‘I’m not mad at it. The lobby was always a nightmare of crowded, cluttered “kitch”. Love an open floor plan!’ some explained.
Earlier this year, Cracker Barrel chief marketing officer Sarah Moore told Fox News Digital the chain had been playing with ‘various levels of remodels.’
‘We’ve been very transparent about our goal of making our stores feel brighter and even more welcoming than they already are, while maintaining that country hospitality and charm that we’re known for,’ she told the outlet.
Moore also said customer feedback would be factored into how extreme the changes get, as the ‘physical guest experience’ is essential to Cracker Barrel.
‘Items like our rocking chairs, our biscuits, our peg games, antiquities on the wall, none of that is going away,’ she assured.
‘We’re just looking at ways to freshen up the experience so that we can open our door a bit wider for more guests.’
Cracker Barrel’s CEO Julie Felss Masino took over the massive brand in 2023 after the previous president, Sandra Cochran, stepped down.
The controversial remodeling comes as a part of a comprehensive plan of ‘driving relevancy, delivering food and an experience guests love, and growing profitability,’ outlined last year.
The company said in March it aimed to completely remodel roughly 30 locations out of the hundreds of Cracker Barrels by this summer (pictured: a Cracker Barrel)
Some users have actually swooped in to defend the chain, which was founded in Tennessee in 1969 (pictured: a Cracker Barrel hostess smiling in a location that is not renovated)
‘I am excited about our strategic transformation plans to drive relevancy, deliver food and experiences guests love, and grow profitability,’ Masino said at the time.
‘Cracker Barrel is an iconic brand with an exceptionally strong foundation, and I firmly believe our plans will allow us to capitalize on our strengths and deliver long-term success.’
The company said in March it aimed to completely remodel roughly 30 locations out of the hundreds of Cracker Barrels by this summer.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Cracker Barrel for comment.
