Crapper Barrel (Cracker Barrel nickname)

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store and Restaurant is a chain combining a retail store and a family-style restaurant. Cracker Barrel was founded in 1969 in Tennessee, named after the famous cracker barrel that provided a seat to “cracker barrel philosophers.”  In 2005, there was some controversy as Cracker Barrel attempted to open a first New York City store in Brooklyn.
 
The Cracker Barrel nickname of “Crapper Barrel” has been cited in print since at least 1997.
 
 
Wikipedia: Cracker Barrel Old Country Store
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc., is a chain of “Old Country Stores,” each combining a retail store and a restaurant. As of September 2009, the company, founded in 1969 and based in Lebanon, Tennessee, was operating 591 full-service locations located in 41 states in the United States. In 2009, Cracker Barrel was ranked as the top “family dining” chain for the 19th consecutive year in Restaurants & Institutions magazine “Choice in Chains” annual consumer survey.
 
Format and extent
The Cracker Barrel chain is a Southern themed chain, and serves traditional Southern comfort food. Their outlets have traditionally been located along interstate highways, though the company policy on this appears to be changing. Breakfast is served all day, though the breakfast menu is kept separate from the one for lunch and dinner. Both menus include a low-carb section.
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Cracker Barrel operates 595 stores in 42 states as of 10 December 2010. The original Cracker Barrel was located on Highway 109 just north of I-40 in Wilson County, TN. Despite change over the years, the original store can still be visited, however it is now a Citgo gas station.
 
TshirtPlanet.net
Crapper Barrel Shirt
     
Google Groups: rec.food.restaurants
Newsgroups: rec.food.restaurants
From: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (Dave )
Date: 1997/01/14
Subject: Re: Cracker Barrel: reactions, please?
 
Around here we call it the CRAPPER Barrel because the food is so greasy.
   
Google Groups: alt.support.childfree
Newsgroups: alt.support.childfree
From: Kent

Date: 1999/08/03
Subject: Re: fast food hellsprog rant
 
Yup, that’s basically what the Crapper Barrel folks said. Thanks for the heads-up on these other places, though!
       
Roadfood.com Forums   
wanderingjew
RE: fajita’s - DFW- Blue Mesa Grill or Joe T Garcia’s?
Fri, 02/4/05 9:29 PM
Big difference between that and perhaps “Crapper Barrel” or “Taco Smell”.
 
Gothamist
Cracker Barrel…in Brooklyn?
By Jen Chung in News on February 23, 2005 1:32 PM
Possibly sounding even more of a death knell in Brooklyn than the invasion of hipsters or an Ikea, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz has invited Cracker Barrel representatives to look at the biggest borough as a possible venue for a new restaurant. Of course, the Southern chain’s history of discriminating against, oh, blacks, women, gays and lesbians, has some city politicians up in arms: City Councilman Charles Barron tells the Daily News (who points out that Barron is a former Black Panther), “Is Marty out of his mind? That’s ridiculous! I think it’s insulting to our community that he would open his arms and take them on a tour without even consulting us. Does he know their reputation? Does he know their history?”
 
Google Books
Another Day, Another Story
By Cherie Bright
Lulu.com
2008
Pg. 82:
Little Bit: “Mmmm…I like Crapper Barrel.
M: “What? You mean CRACKER Barrel.”
Little Bit: “Yeah. Crapper Barrel.”
   
The Mutant Mouse Chronicles
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Restaurant Nicknames
Sweetie Angel started it. She had a terrible meal at Cracker Barrel. As we were leaving, she said, “This isn’t Cracker Barrel, it’s Crapper Barrel.” The name stuck. Now every time we drive down the Interstate and she sees a sign for Cracker Barrel, she says, “Look Dad, there is a Crapper Barrel 15 miles ahead.” Makes you want to stop and use the facilities.
 
Google Books
Live in the Moment
By Julie Clark Robinson
ReadHowYouWant
2010
Pg. 52:
Only last week my twelve-year-old niece was talking about stopping at her favorite restaurant along the highway, and she mistakenly called it the “Crapper Barrel.” We laughed and laughed at that one.
 
Ask MetaFilter
Nickname that store
November 30, 2010 8:53 AM
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Cracker Barrel = “Crapper Barrel”. Although I don’t know why I call it this, as I really like their food.
posted by I’m Brian and so’s my wife! at 9:18 AM on November 30, 2010