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CRACKER Barrel customers are sharing their frustration after spotting several changes at the restaurant.
The Cracker Barrel CEO Julie Felss Masino previously discussed the changes coming to the old-west-themed restaurant on a May 16 conference call.
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Masino revealed the restaurant needed a “transformation” to continue to appeal to its current customer base.
The company embarked on a $700 million redesign of its stores to help bring the store into the 21st century.
It redesigned its stores with a slightly less cluttered look and a new menu.
Masino also suggested the chain may raise the prices of food in certain locations.
“For example, we have stores in metro areas with an average annual household income of $55,000 in the same pricing tier as one with $90,000,” she told investors on the call.
Cracker Barrel diners have taken to social media to slam the new changes.
“They [Cracker Barrel] changed everything, menu prices are up, so loud inside you can’t hear each other talk! Not happy with changes!!” raged one customer.
“Same here. Not happy with it at all,” a second agreed.
“The demise of Cracker Barrel wonderful. It doesn’t need to be changed at all,” argued a third.
“This is a huge mistake, if they go away from the traditional homey feel and food they will lose business,” claimed a fourth.
“They changed the menus, they need to go back to the way it was. Old-time country cooking,” a fifth said.
THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES
This comes after former Taco Bell executive, Masino revealed the restaurant was not “as relevant as we once were.”
Cracker Barrel’s sales have struggled for most of the past recent quarter.
Its revenue is unchanged at $935.4 compared with a year earlier, while its stock continues to decline tumbling 40% so far in 2024.
Three changes coming to Cracker Barrel
CRACKER Barrel is making drastic changes to some of its locations after the chain’s stock continues to decline.
- New decor – Cracker Barrel is piloting a remodel of its restaurants using a different color palette, updating lighting, offering more comfortable seating, and simplifying decor and fixtures.
- Tweaking prices – Lowering prices at some locations as well as raising prices in others due to the location of the chain.
- New menu items – In more than 10 locations, Cracker Barrel has tested 20 new items, including green chili cornbread and banana pudding.
Masino continued to express her concern with the chain’s recent failures.
“[W]e are not leading in any area,” Masino said.
“[T]he reality is we’ve lost some market share, especially at dinner.”
Despite customers complaining about the new decor the restaurant will continue to make changes.
“The goal, simply put, was to freshen things in such a way as to be noticeable and attractive but still feel like Cracker Barrel,” she said.
Masino even emphasized that customer feedback had been positive even after many customers had shared complaints.
Cracker Barrel plans to remodel as many as 30 stores in its next fiscal year, she added.
NOTHING LAST FOREVER
Meanwhile, things aren’t getting any better for the old-western-style chain as it continues to close its doors to multiple locations.
Bosses admitted they were sad to announce the closure of the Sacramento establishment
The restaurant has shut its doors after just six years of business, per the CBS affiliate KOVR.
Footage shared on Reddit showed the establishment boarded up and its parking lot empty.
A notice has been put on the doors of the restaurant informing diners about the closure.
“To our Sacramento community, we’ve been honored to welcome guests into a home-away-from-home at our store, and we’ve valued the opportunity to be part of so many special occasions for our guests and community for nearly six years,” it said.
“We’re deeply saddened to announce this location has closed.”
Southern food lovers can still visit five other Cracker Barrel stores in the state.
