Cracker Barrel Old Country Store

There's something almost magical about pulling into a Cracker Barrel parking lot. You know exactly what you're getting-and honestly, that's kind of the point. This American chain of restaurant and gift stores has been serving up Southern country comfort since Dan Evins founded it in Lebanon, Tennessee back in 1969.

But here's where it gets interesting. Cracker Barrel is currently going through what some fans are calling an identity crisis, implementing a rebrand that started last year with physical makeovers to certain locations aimed at boosting sales and attracting new customers. About 40 of the chain's roughly 660 locations have been revamped, involving "a different color palette, updating lighting, offering more comfortable seating, and simplifying decor and fixtures."

And people have feelings about this. Strong feelings. The response has been mixed, with fans of the kitschy, old-fashioned decor mourning the loss of Cracker Barrel's charming sense of nostalgia. One longtime diner said, "It has always felt like being in someone's home. But opening the walls, lighter colors and atmosphere, it feels like something colder."

The thing is, Cracker Barrel built its reputation on being that reliable roadside stop where the menu is based on traditional Southern cuisine, with appearance and decor designed to resemble an old-fashioned general store, complete with front porches lined with wooden rocking chairs, stone fireplaces, and decorative artifacts from the local area. The name itself comes from the barrels of soda crackers that could be found for sale in small-town stores across the American South in the early 1900s, where people would stand around chatting and catching up.

Still, there's something to be said for a place that has inspired the kind of loyalty where a married couple drove over 5 million miles to visit 644 Cracker Barrel locations, and when the company opened their 645th restaurant in 2017, they flew the couple out for the grand opening and presented them with custom aprons and rocking chairs.

Whether the new look sticks or not, Cracker Barrel remains that uniquely American institution where you can still get biscuits and gravy at 3 PM and browse through a gift shop filled with nostalgic candy and rocking chairs. Sometimes that's exactly what you need.