Cracker Barrel suspends redesign of restaurants – Business News
Cracker Barrel on Tuesday abruptly suspended its restaurant remodels and promised to keep its cherished “old country store” vibe following a livid backlash that pressured the chain to stroll back plans for a new brand that cut out its beloved “Uncle Herschel.”
In a assertion titled “Your Old Country Store is Here to Stay,” the chain assured prospects that if their restaurant hasn’t been reworked but, “you don’t need to worry, it won’t be.”
“We heard clearly that the modern remodel design does not reflect what you love about Cracker Barrel,” the restaurant stated on its web website.
Cracker Barrel froze its restaurant remodels after testing modernized designs in solely 4 of 660 places. BACKGRID
Customers blasted new menus and interiors as “soulless,” sparking a nationwide uproar. Getty Images
“We had tested this design in only four out of 660 locations, and we won’t continue with it. Of course, we will continue to invest in our restaurants to make sure that they are in good shape and meet your expectations.”
The company vowed that its “vintage Americana…will always be here – the rocking chairs on the porch, our fireplaces and peg games, unique treasures in our gift shop and antiques pulled straight from our warehouse in Lebanon, Tennessee.”
“We want you to have a warm, welcoming space for friends and family to gather and enjoy our craveable food and country hospitality,” the company stated.
Cracker Barrel famous that alongside the choice to reverse course on its “Old Timer” brand, the transfer to halt restaurant renovations “reinforces that we hear you”
Cracker Barrel launched a $600 to $700 million redesign plan to replace all 660 of its restaurants with lighter interiors, minimalist furnishings and a new text-only brand that eliminated the enduring “Uncle Herschel” character.
The overhaul stripped out a lot of the chain’s cluttered, country-store décor and darkish wooden aesthetic, although some touches like fireplaces and rocking chairs had been stored.
Cracker Barrel’s streamlined branding cut out “Uncle Herschel,” prompting outrage. Getty Images
The rollout of a minimalist brand triggered backlash and boycotts throughout social media. AP
Customers shortly revolted, blasting the look as “soulless” and “sterile,” whereas conservative critics accused the model of abandoning conventional American values. After viral backlash and a sharp stock drop, Cracker Barrel restored its previous brand however initially pressed forward with inside renovations.
Cracker Barrel responded within days, restoring a lot of its visible historical past and reaffirming that “what will never change … are the values this company was built on” — onerous work, household, scratch-cooked food and nation hospitality.
