The Only States In The US Without A Cracker Barrel
With 662 locations in operation as of February 2024, Cracker Barrel has become a well known chain of restaurants across the United States. From the opening of its very first restaurant in Lebanon, Tennessee in 1969, the chain has gone on to establish locations all over the eastern United States, and has also expanded its reach to the west coast. But in spite of the apparent ubiquity of Cracker Barrel restaurants in the country, some states still stand without a location to call their own.
The sight of a Cracker Barrel Old Country Store greeting your eyes as you drive along the interstate is an experience shared by many in the country, but it's not a universal experience for each and every state. The states of Alaska, Hawaii, Washington, Wyoming, and Vermont all currently have no Cracker Barrel locations to call their own. Why is this the case, and is there any chance that one of these states will see a Cracker Barrel open up soon?
A question of demographics
Even though Cracker Barrel has branched out to include popular breakfast items and cool secret menu items, its identity as a comfort food locale is firmly cemented. Its southern charm in both its food and its atmosphere has helped to secure Cracker Barrel's place in the restaurant market. But these same factors might also be reasons why expansion away from their roots has been slow.
The states with the most Cracker Barrel locations are in the southeast region of the U.S. Florida has the most, with 60 restaurants, while Texas, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Virginia, and Alabama round out the top 8. These states comprise over half of all Cracker Barrel restaurants in the U.S. The appeal and aesthetic of the country store naturally have a wide demographic in this region, while it may seem more like a niche (even hokey) idea as you venture further north and west. This, coupled with the general sparseness in population further from the eastern seaboard, may explain why Wyoming, Washington, and Vermont still lack a Cracker Barrel. The isolation of Alaska and Hawaii both geographically and culturally also plays a role in why they don't have one.
It should also be noted that Cracker Barrel doesn't franchise its locations, and with the company reporting recent drops in traffic and sales as well as focusing on expanding the appeal of their existing restaurants, you'll have to search outside of these five states if you want to visit Cracker Barrel.