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.

Route 1 Locations 

155 N Krome Ave, Florida City, FL 33034

1960 NW 150th Ave, Pembroke Pines, FL 33028

1250 FAU Research Park Blvd, Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

1475 SW 8th St, Boynton Beach, FL 33426

9380 19th Ln, Vero Beach, FL 32966

1175 Palm Bay Rd NE, Melbourne, FL 32905

7225 George T Edwards Dr, Melbourne, FL 32940

4745 Helen Hauser Blvd, Titusville, FL 32780

2325 W International Speedway Blvd, Daytona Beach, FL 32114

2441 FL-16, St. Augustine, FL 32092

4272 Eldridge Loop, Orange Park, FL 32073

2501 Memorial Dr, Waycross, GA 31503

460 Park W Dr, Grovetown, GA 30813

2352 Whiskey Rd, Aiken, SC 29803

2208 Bush River Rd, Columbia, SC 29210

2300 Legrand Rd, Columbia, SC 29223

10975 US Hwy 15 501 N, Southern Pines, NC 28387

3212 NC-87, Sanford, NC 27332

955 Airport Blvd, Morrisville, NC 27560

1002 Ruin Creek Rd, Henderson, NC 27536

1400 Country Ln, South Hill, VA 23970

12401 Redwater Creek Rd, Chester, VA 23831

4435 S Laburnum Ave, Richmond, VA 23231

106 S Carter Rd, Ashland, VA 23005

5200 Southpoint Pkwy, Fredericksburg, VA 22407

1971 Carl D Silver Pkwy, Fredericksburg, VA 22401

17115 Dumfries Rd, Dumfries, VA 22025

125 S Stewart Ave, Ridley Park, PA 19078

3611 Horizon Blvd, Trevose, PA 19053

825 Marketplace Blvd, Hamilton Township, NJ 08691

30 Research Dr, Milford, CT 06460

825 Centre of New England Blvd, Coventry, RI 02816

1048 South St #40, Wrentham, MA 02093

357 Maine Mall Rd, South Portland, ME 04106