The chain's early locations were positioned near Interstate Highway exits in the Southeastern and Midwestern United States, but expanded across the country during the s and s. As of August 10, , the company operates stores in 45 states. Cracker Barrel's menu is based on traditional Southern cuisine , with appearance and decor designed to resemble an old-fashioned general store. Each location features a front porch lined with wooden rocking chairs , a stone fireplace , and decorative artifacts from the local area.
Cracker Barrel partners with country music performers. It engages in charitable activities, such as its assistance to victims of Hurricane Katrina and injured war veterans. Cracker Barrel was founded in by Dan Evins , a representative for Shell Oil , who developed the restaurant and gift store concept initially as a plan to improve gasoline sales.
The first restaurant was built close to Interstate 40 , just outside Lebanon on the Gallatin Highway exit in Tennessee. Evins incorporated Cracker Barrel in February , [ 5 ] and soon opened more locations. In the early s, the firm leased land on gasoline station sites near interstate highways to build restaurants. Cracker Barrel became a publicly traded company in to raise funds for further expansion.
In , the chain tested a carry-out-only store, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Corner Market, in suburban residential neighborhoods. By September , Cracker Barrel had restaurants, and aimed to increase the number of stores by approximately 50 per year over the following five years. The company's president, Ron Magruder, stated that the chain was concentrating on strengthening its core theme, offering traditional foods and retail in a country store setting, with good service and country music.
In and , the company addressed staffing and infrastructure issues related to this rapid growth by implementing a more rigorous recruitment strategy and introducing new technology, including an order-placement system. The house had been the elementary dormitory and school for Castle Heights Military Academy which both Dan Evins and his son attended.
