I saw the jokes about the name change a few times, and went looking for what the name even meant. I didn’t expect it to be so literal, it feels like an odd format to ship crackers in
The name specifically ties into the history of what Cracker Barrel is trying to replicate: An old country store. Back when small towns often only had a few businesses, country stores were not just for selling food and supplies; they were a community gathering place. During this time, soda crackers, which are another name for saltines, were shipped to these stores in big wooden barrels to prevent them from breaking during transit. After the crackers were taken out, the barrels would be repurposed as tables that locals could sit around as they socialized. They were even used to hold checkerboards, which remain a Cracker Barrel staple.
Fun fact: most Cracker Barrel restaurants are built just off an interstate exit. They use GIS for planning and hope to catch travelers as they stop for gas and food.
That’s my main memory of Cracker Barrel. It was a place we’d sometimes stop and eat at when I was a kid during the family road trips. In that sense, I have some good memories associated with them, but I’m not particularly nostalgic for the brand and I’ve not been to one in years.
McDonalds are built on intersections to discourage people from walking in.
The idea was so only car owners would visit and discourage people who didn’t own cars.
The franchise owners sometimes go the trouble of getting on councils and closing down roads and pedestrian crossings to discourage pedestrian access.
Why would they prefer drivers? The greater portion of drivers, the more they have to spend on car infrastructure, and even then there is a pretty limited max throughput
Sorry, isn’t that the plan for most food joints? I mean I understand they’re at other locations, but just off exits is big for this reason.
Most food joints just go for market saturation. Cracker Barrel specifically targets travelers.