Cracker Barrel halts remodeling, keeps traditional branding

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store said Tuesday that it will suspend plans to remodel its restaurants and will maintain its traditional branding after widespread customer backlash to a recent modernization effort. The Lebanon, Tennessee based company said on its website and on X that it had tested the modern interior design in only four of its roughly 660 locations and will not move forward with further remodels.

"We heard clearly that the modern remodel design does not reflect what you love about Cracker Barrel," the company said in the statement, adding that guests need not worry if their local restaurant has not yet been renovated. The chain said it will continue to invest in its restaurants to keep them in good condition and to meet customer expectations, while preserving signature elements such as rocking chairs, peg games, antiques and stone fireplaces.

The decision follows weeks of public criticism that intensified after a video showing a refreshed, brighter store interior and a revised logo went viral. Cracker Barrel initially rolled out a new barrel shaped logo as part of a broader rebrand and store refresh late last month, but reversed the logo change within days amid...