Cracker Barrel – the early years and why it started
Cracker Barrel was founded in 1969 by Dan Evins, a sales representative for Shell Oil, who initially created the restaurant and gift store concept in an attempt to improve gasoline sales as it intended to attract the interest of highway travellers. The first restaurant was opened in September 1969 next to Interstate 40, in Lebanon, Tennessee.
Dan Evins incorporated Cracker Barrel in February 1970 and opened more locations. These early locations all featured gas pumps on-site. However, during gasoline shortages in the mid to late 1970s, the company started to build restaurants without gas pumps. The company reduced the number of gas stations on-site until the 1980’s, eventually removing them altogether as the focus shifted to the restaurant and gift sales.
Cracker Barrel’s Old Wordly Southern charm
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store is a restaurant and gift store chain stores with an old worldly general store theme and Southern cuisine inspired menu. Each restaurant features a front porch lined with wooden rocking chairs, a stone fireplace and decorative artefacts from the local area.
Cracker Barrel facts and figures
There are 653 Cracker Barrel Old Country Store locations across 45 states of the USA.
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