Cracker Barrel fan who helped launch revolt over ill-advised makeover says backtrack feels like vindication

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store is calling disconnected its makeover.

After months of customer outrage over revamped logos, redesigned eating rooms and little nutrient quality, nan Tennessee-based edifice concatenation announced Tuesday that it’s suspending its shop remodels and doubling down connected nan nutrient that made it famous.

“You’ve shared your voices successful caller weeks, not conscionable connected our logo, but besides connected our restaurants. We’re continuing to listen,” Cracker Barrel said in a connection connected societal media. 

“Today, we’re suspending our remodels. If your restaurant hasn’t been remodeled, you don’t request to worry, it won’t be. With our caller announcement that our ‘Old Timer’ logo will remain, on pinch our bigger attraction successful nan room and connected your plate, we dream that today’s measurement reinforces that we perceive you.”

The reversal follows months of uproar from loyal customers who accused nan marque of abandoning its nostalgic Southern style. 

At nan forefront of that activity was Rachel Love, a 38-year-old Tennessee female whose April TikTok video went viral erstwhile she called retired Cracker Barrel for taking distant “the past portion of nostalgia you had left.”

Love told Fox News Digital that this week’s announcement felt for illustration vindication. 

“I was ace excited, but it’s been a agelong clip coming,” she said.

Her disapproval of what she calls Cracker Barrel’s “barn-dominium look” struck a nervus pinch fans. Viral videos and thousands of comments soon followed, mostly echoing her vexation that nan concatenation was rebranding alternatively of putting nan attraction connected nutrient quality.

Love said she believes Cracker Barrel’s early lies successful “being relatable.”

“We don’t spell location for nan logo,” she said. “We spell location for the food, for nan familiarity, for nan nostalgic emotion that you get.”

She suggested Cracker Barrel return to its roots by offering “meat-and-three” meals again, bringing existent cooks backmost to nan room and ending modernization trends that alienate longtime customers.

“Quit trying to make it thing it’s not,” she said. “That’s 1 thing. It’s nan Cracker Barrel Old Country Store. Old. It’s old. It’s successful nan name.”

Cracker Barrel’s reversal represents a chance to repair its narration pinch loyal fans for illustration Love, she suggested.

“The treatment perfectly originates now,” Love said, adding that this is Cracker Barrel’s chance to “shine.”

“It’s an breathtaking caller way that they person and, if they do this right, I consciousness for illustration it could beryllium a immense comeback for them. But they person to make it awesome again. Make Cracker Barrel awesome again.”

Whether Cracker Barrel follows done connected its committedness to put a “bigger focus in nan room and connected your plate” remains to beryllium seen. For now, nan Old Country Store charm isn’t going anywhere, apparently – and that’s precisely really fans want it.

“I want to spot it succeed. I’m passionate astir it,” Love said. “I emotion their meatloaf. I do it for nan meatloaf.”