Why Cracker Barrel's Iconic Decor Was So Sentimental

Above, a hot-air balloon as seen from an Albuquerque Cracker Barrel. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Let's see. In recent years I have been to at least four Cracker Barrel restaurants.

I've been to the one in Gallup, New Mexico. I've been to two in Albuquerque, New Mexico. And, I've been to one in Kingman, Arizona.

Above, the fireplace at an Albuquerque Cracker Barrel. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

All of them looked pretty much the same with the same antiques. The sameness doesn't bother me. It is fun looking at the antiques while waiting for the meals to be served. Looking at the items from bygone eras is the big draw for people. Ruining that would be worse than the logo fiasco. Also, the food, for me, has been consistently good. I've no complaints.

Above, an Elvis Presley gospel CD from Cracker Barrel. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There's an interesting story about how Cracker Barrel acquires their antiques. The article also tells of the warehouse that stores them.

Above, the Gallup Cracker Barrel fireplace. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The article is posted by TastingTable and it begins with:

Cracker Barrel has been making a lot of changes lately, and many of them aren't landing well with longtime fans. Most recently, the chain of restaurants and retail stores removed Uncle Hershel from the logo and received backlash for it. Last year, the chain modernized the interiors of the restaurants, and that, too, came under scrutiny. The old-fashioned interiors of Cracker Barrel restaurants held a lot of nostalgia, so it's not surprising that diners didn't like it when the look changed so drastically. It turns out that the restaurants are just doing a little refresh and, in response to a viral TikTok video, they assured patrons that the old-timey decor would be back on the walls sooner rather than later.

What you may not know is that the old decor actually holds meaning. Every single antique that decorates the inside of a Cracker Barrel is real and was at least inspired by local history. It all started with the first restaurant-store that opened in Lebanon, Tennessee, in 1969. Founder Dan Evins enlisted the help of Don and Kathleen Singleton, who owned a local antiques store, to come and decorate the interior to feel like an old country store.

As Evins opened more Cracker Barrels, the Singletons came on board as full-time designers, setting up the decor for each location. In 1979, after Kathleen got sick, their son, Larry Singleton, took over. He retired in 2018 after almost 40 years. Joe Stewart, who worked with Singleton for 33 years, is now the decor manager. 

Above, Russell Azbill and Larry Lucier getting their orders
taken at the Gallup Cracker Barrel. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here.