Cracker Barrel released a video showing its return to traditional décor after suspending controversial restaurant remodels that drew criticism from longtime fans.
The Tennessee-based chain shared a 32-second video on Monday on social media, showing the “Old Timer” sign being reinstalled and modern decorations removed from one of its restaurants.
“Like any good relationship, sometimes you just need a little tune-up,” the post read. “We’re going back to the things that made us all fall in love in the first place.”
Like any good relationship, sometimes you just need a little tune-up. We’re going back to the things that made us all fall in love in the first place. pic.twitter.com/PSVUc4r5Th
— Cracker Barrel (@CrackerBarrel) September 15, 2025
The company announced it would halt remodeling plans following months of backlash against efforts to modernize its stores and logo. As The Dallas Express reported, Cracker Barrel had begun testing the remodels at four sites, introducing brighter walls, lighter paint, and a pared-down set of antiques, but the changes upset many patrons. CEO Julie Felss Masino, who rolled out the broader transformation plan in 2024, had argued the brand was “losing relevance” and needed to “freshen things.”
The video, posted on September 15, appeared to address concerns about whether remodeled restaurants would revert to their original look. A Cracker Barrel spokesperson confirmed to Fox News that the footage was taken at a Smyrna, Tennessee, location last week.
Rachel Love, a Tennessee customer whose viral video first brought widespread attention to the remodel, told Fox News Digital she was “super excited” to see the reversal. “How much money is this costing you now to fix this versus just listening to what the people want?” she asked.
The move follows a storm of social media backlash over the company’s simplified logo, which removed the image of an “old timer” Uncle Herschel sitting against a barrel. In August, the new design sparked criticism online, with some customers saying it stripped away the chain’s identity.
President Donald Trump even weighed in on the matter, urging on Truth Social: “Make Cracker Barrel a WINNER again.”
Even the President’s opponents agreed. “We think the Cracker Barrel rebrand sucks too,” the official X account for the Democratic Party posted.
The controversy comes ahead of Cracker Barrel’s scheduled quarterly earnings release on September 17. Analysts expect the chain to report revenue of $872.4 million and earnings of $0.81 per share. Quiver Quantitative reported that, “We have seen 137 institutional investors add shares of CRACKER BARREL OLD CTRY STOR stock to their portfolio, and 155 decrease their positions in their most recent quarter.”
While some customers commenting on the company’s new video reportedly insisted they would not return until leadership changes at the top, others praised the shift back to the brand’s roots. As Cracker Barrel wrote in its statement last week: “We heard clearly that the modern remodel design does not reflect what you love about Cracker Barrel.”