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.
Also, Cracker Barrel was founded in 1969. It was always fake nostalgia bait for white people. Who else was pining for the 1800s at that point? People are talking about the logo change erasing their culture or whatever, which I guess is true if your culture is a truckstop restaurant with knickknacks on the walls.
The Wild West was super popular around that time. Little House on the Prairie, was published in the 30’s/40’s, so the push for more old west stuff 30ish years later (when the adapted the books I to a show) kind of marks the end of the nostalgia driven media from that generation.
I had never thought about it, but cracker barrel being from that 60/70’s cowboy craze makes a shitload of sense.
Yea my great grandfather was born around 1930 and he was a really big John Wayne fan
hey, i’ll have you know some damn good food comes out of truck stops. best worst bbq chain i know started in one. best tacos next town over are served at one.