Danny Evins, founder of Cracker Barrel, has to turn inside his grave over the indecency shown to the respected and successful dining brand he has created from everything.
The casual dining restaurant known for Southern Charm under the current “Wake Up” administrator has changed its image, including dropping a man in jersey overalls with his arms in wooden barrels from his logo.
Since 1977, the painting of the man and barrel has been part of the restaurant’s logo. The decision to drop it is reportedly as restaurant chains are trying to maintain a connection with a new generation of diners.
“It has appeared again and again as a way we communicate, the menu, the way our stores appear again and again in our research, as an opportunity for us to truly regain relation.
The dramatic decline in cracker barrel stock prices today is another story. Since debuting its new logo, the company has lost 13% in stock.
Masino became CEO of Cracker Barrel after his leadership roles at Taco Bell and Starbucks.
The restaurant was first opened in 1969 by Danny Yvins of Lebanon. He borrowed $40,000 to build his first restaurant.
Originally, they relied on text-only logos. Cracker Barrel said in a press release that the new logo design is “more closely ingrained in the iconic barrel shape and word mark that started it all.”
However, the logo’s redesign has been the subject of backlash, particularly from conservative commentators who accused the restaurant chain of “woke up.” President Donald Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., shared his frustration with Cracker Barrel by sharing a tweet from his account. The Week Warroom also accused Masino of being a supporter of diversity, equity and inclusion employment practices and noted that he is facing a civil rights complaint by the First Legal of the United States attorney general.
This is not the first time Cracker Barrel has faced conservative rage over the embrace of the left wing agenda. In 2023, the restaurant chain faced backlash during Pride Month after posting on social media celebrating LGBTQ customers. The Texas Family Project, a conservative organisation, said in a post on X: “There’s no joy in reporting that @crackerbarrel has collapsed.” The company has openly supported Pride Month for several years and maintains its commitment to LGBTQ customers on its website.
Conservative singer John Rich posted on his X account on Thursday: “As you woke up, will you go to the cracker barrel? This could be a “bad light” moment to make…”
Steve Gill is the publisher of Tristar Daily. He regularly dined with Danny Evins at the original Lebanon cracker barrel before Danny passed away in 2012.
