Cracker Barrel has suspended the remodeling of its restaurants after the new logo attracted criticism from longtime customers.

The country-theme restaurant chain said earlier this week it would not move forward with the remodeling plans, following the recent decision to preserve its old logo. 

The restaurant revamp began last year, which added more comfortable seating, brighter lights, lighter paint and a simplified assortment of antiques.

The remodeling also came with a new logo design, which stripped away the iconic stylized illustration of ‘Uncle Herschel’ sitting on a chair next to a wooden barrel.

The move, which was said to simplify the logo and modernize the customer experience, proved to have upset a lot of longtime fans.

“You’ve shared your voices in recent weeks not just on our logo, but also on our restaurants. We’re continuing to listen,” the company wrote on X.

“If your restaurant hasn’t been remodeled, you don’t need to worry, it won’t be. With our recent announcement that our ‘Old Timer’ logo will remain, along with our bigger focus in the kitchen and on your plate, we hope that today’s step reinforces that we hear you.”

According to Cracker Barrel, only four of its 660 restaurants have been changed so far. 

AP News reported that the plans were part of a transformation strategy that began last May under the company’s new CEO, Julie Felss Masino, a former executive at Taco Bell and Starbucks. At the time, Masino believed the restaurant chain needed some newness to boost customer traffic.

The company originally intended to remodel 25 to 30 stores during the fiscal year ended July 31.

In FY24, Cracker Barrel reported a 59 per cent decline in net income amid higher expenses and store closing costs. The company will announce its financial results for the fourth quarter and the full FY25 later this month.