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Discover the Heart of Southern Hospitality: Cracker Barrel's Journey from Lebanon, Tennessee to Your Neighborhood

The Tennessee-based homey restaurant chain that developed the restaurant and gift store concept, with warm welcome’s, friendly smiles, and Southern Homestyle food is all over the United States.

Back in the late 19th century American country stores stocked barrels of soda crackers which customers would often gather around to chat and socialize.

The term Cracker Barrel eventually came to refer to the simple, rustic informality and straight forwardness that was characteristic of those conversations and the country stores they took place in.

Dan Evins’ Concept in the Early Years

The first Cracker Barrel location was opened off Interstate 40 in Lebanon, Tennessee in 1969 by a man named Dan Evins.

Back then, even the cornbread was made from scratch, a practice that’s still going strong today. When Evins opened the first Cracker Barrel, he was working for his grandfather’s gasoline business.

Back at the late ’60s, the interstate Road system was still in its early stages and Evins wanted to find a better way to service the needs of drivers, while also expanding his family’s oil business.

He thought a down-home country store inspired by the ones he visited as a boy would be more enticing to homesick travelers than fast food restaurants.

All of those tools, signs, photographs and toys that decorate the walls are authentic vintage items, no reproductions allowed.

Each restaurant features unique local finds that reflect the community’s history.

Today’s Restaurants

Every Cracker Barrel Old Country Store has an ox yoke and a horseshoe hanging over the front door, a traffic light over the restroom, a deer head over the mantle and a wood burning cook stove used as display to the retail section.

All the Cracker Barrel front porches have rocking chairs made by the Hinkle Chair Company, a five generation family business that was founded in 1834 in Springfield, Tennessee. Andrew Hinkle the company’s founder, was a farmer who made ladder back chairs in the hot summer months to supplement his income.

Today Cracker Barrel serves 11 million orders of chicken and dumplings a year, 151 million eggs, 121 million slices of bacon, 56 million pancakes, 37 million portions of grits, 13 million pounds of chicken tenders and over 4 million moon pies are sold annually.

With 658 locations in 46 States you will find a Cracker Barrel all along Route 1.