Cracker Barrel just unveiled a new update to its trademark Southern country store look. With this update, the regional chain hopes to update the look while preserving its beloved, local character. The new look provides a brighter, more open design featuring new furnishings, improved lighting and sleek bookcases. This iteration is representative of Cracker Barrel’s company-wide push to introduce a fresh modern-roots aesthetic throughout at least a third of its stores.
In August 2022, the national restaurant chain announced its redesign on Instagram. They have already started renovations on 25-30 of their 660+ locations and they plan to prototype different layouts. Since their remodel, photos and videos of the beautifully renovated spaces have gone viral on social media platforms. Even still, they’ve brought in hundreds of thousands of views! Whether patrons view these changes as an improvement or a mistake, they’ve flooded the comment sections with their responses.
Whether you love the new look or hate it, the hundreds of thousands of customers have spoken. Supporters of the redesign have praised the updates, with one Instagram user exclaiming, “I love it! A simple ‘brightening’ along the walls. Love the food, friendly staff and charming store.” Contrasting opinions emerged as some customers lamented the loss of the original ambiance, with one commenter stating, “Absolutely hate the renovations. Please do not take away the character that makes it so special and cozy.”
Even with that lukewarm review, Cracker Barrel spokespeople continue to say that the reception to the initiative has been overwhelmingly positive. “We are very pleased with the trajectory of our remodeled stores,” a company representative said. “Feedback from both guests and team members has been overwhelmingly positive and enthusiastic about the refreshed dining and shopping experience.”
These reimagined restaurants feature all of Cracker Barrel’s trademark design touches. You’ll still see massive stone fireplaces and the occasional taxidermy deer head mounted, preserving those comforts of a classic lodge. The new designs are meant to balance contemporary looks with the classic, familiar, cozy vibe that old-school customers love.
Conversations about the redesign have taken off on social media. As a result, many users are now calling on Cracker Barrel to return to the aesthetic of old. One commenter poignantly asked, “Can we please go back to the original look? The nostalgia is gone.”
A Cracker Barrel spokesperson responded to these criticisms with admirable openness. They knew that even positive changes could create a backlash, but they have a passion for making the customer experience better. “As with any change, we recognize that there may be a vocal minority who feel differently,” they stated. “The strong performance of these locations affirms that we are moving in the right direction.”
