Cracker Barrel-Owned Restaurant Chain Closes 14 Locations Across 6 States
Cracker Barrel’s fast-casual offshoot, Maple Street Biscuit Company, is shutting down 14 locations as the parent company works through the aftermath of a turbulent rebranding effort. The closures were confirmed during Cracker Barrel’s latest earnings call, where executives outlined plans to streamline operations heading into fiscal 2026.
The announcement comes just weeks after Cracker Barrel faced widespread backlash over a proposed logo rebrand and restaurant redesign. While the company ultimately reversed course and scrapped the changes, the fallout lingered, weighing on traffic and consumer sentiment across its portfolio.
For Maple Street, the closures mark a notable pullback for a brand that once symbolized Cracker Barrel’s expansion into the fast-casual breakfast space.
What Closures Are Happening
Cracker Barrel confirmed that the 14 Maple Street Biscuit Company locations being shuttered were company-owned stores that failed to meet financial expectations. The company did not initially release a full list of affected locations, but later reporting showed the closures span six states.
Texas was hit hardest, with seven locations closing across the Dallas–Fort Worth area. Additional closures occurred in Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Ohio, affecting both suburban and tourist-heavy markets that once generated strong breakfast traffic.
Following the closures, more than 50 Maple Street locations remain open nationwide. Cracker Barrel has emphasized that the move is part of a targeted effort to focus on stronger markets rather than a retreat from the brand entirely.
Why the Rebrand Fallout Mattered
The closures are closely tied to broader challenges at Cracker Barrel itself. Over the summer, the company announced plans to modernize its image, including a redesigned logo that removed its long-standing “Old Timer” mascot. The move sparked immediate backlash from loyal customers.
Executives later acknowledged that the company underestimated how deeply customers connected with Cracker Barrel’s nostalgic identity. After traffic dropped sharply in the weeks following the rebrand, the company reversed the decision, reinstated the original logo, and paused restaurant remodels.
While Maple Street Biscuit Company operates as a separate concept, analysts say brand instability at the parent company can ripple through its subsidiaries. Combined with rising labor costs, competition in the breakfast space, and shifting consumer habits, underperforming Maple Street locations became harder to justify.
What the Closures Signal Going Forward
The shutdowns highlight a broader recalibration underway in the restaurant industry. Fast-casual chains that expanded aggressively in recent years are now reassessing store counts, especially as traffic remains uneven and operating costs stay elevated.
Cracker Barrel has signaled that Maple Street remains part of its long-term strategy, but with a sharper focus on profitability and operational discipline. By trimming weaker locations, the company aims to stabilize performance and rebuild trust after a year marked by missteps.
For customers, the closures may feel abrupt, particularly in communities where Maple Street had become a local staple. For the industry, they serve as a reminder that brand identity, customer loyalty, and financial discipline are tightly linked and that even popular concepts are vulnerable when those elements fall out of balance.
