The Cracker Barrel Old Country Store restaurant in Santa Maria has closed, one of a several recently shuttered by the Tennessee-based firm undergoing what leaders have dubbed “strategic transformation” amid financial struggles.
Five years ago, Cracker Barrel opened the Santa Maria location at the northeast corner of East Betteravia and South Bradley roads, but customers showing up Monday found the eatery closed.
“As a standard course of business, we continually evaluate the performance of our stores, using various criteria to ensure we are meeting the needs of our guests and our business,” Cracker Barrel representatives told Noozhawk.
“We have made the difficult decision to close the Santa Maria Cracker Barrel location. The decision to close a store is never one we take lightly, and our focus right now is on assisting our impacted employees during this transition.”
The Sacramento location also closed this week.
The restaurant menu founded in 1969 features comfort food with a goal of being a home away from home for customers. In addition to serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, small shops at each site sold decor, collectibles, seasonal items, apparel and accessories.
A large sign hangs on the eastside of the Santa Maria building saying “Store closed.”
Signs on the front door and the restaurant’s porch also noted the closure.
“To our Santa Maria community — we’ve been honored to welcome guests into a home-away-from home at our store, and we’ve valued the opportunity to be part of the so many special occasions for our guests and community over the past five years.
“We’re deeply saddened to announce this location has closed but we hope you will visit any of our more than 660 Cracker Barrel locations across 44 states.”
Cracker Barrel representatives did not say how many employees lost their jobs or what type of severance package they were offered, if any. Before opening, officials said they planned to fill 250 full and part-time slots.
“We extend our sincere thanks to our employees who worked so hard to keep our fireplace glowing and to the guests who have dined with us, celebrated with us, and made us part of their community. We look forward to reconnecting with them at other times at nearby Cracker Barrels in the future,” company representatives said.
While the Santa Maria site has been wiped off the company’s website, it shows Cracker Barrel still has California locations in Camarillo, Victorville, Rialto and Bakersfield.
The closure came weeks after Cracker Barrel (Nasdaq: CBRL) reported its second quarter financial report, claiming comparable store restaurant sales increased 1.2%, while comparable store retail sales decreased 5.3%.
In November’s first quarter report, the firm reported total revenue dropped 1.9% with comparable store restaurant sales decreasing 0.5%. Comparable store retail sales decreased 8.1%.
The 2024 outlook called for total revenue of $3.5 billion to $3.6 billion with two new Cracker Barrel stores and 9 to 11 new Maple Street Biscuit Company units.
But the presentation included phrases such as “strategic transformation and getting this business back to growth,” and “brand repositioning,” and “returning it back to strength.”
The firm’s stock price sat at $60.09 on Tuesday, slightly lower than Monday. The stock price has ranged from $116.05 to $56.79 in the past 52 weeks.
Within the past week, media reports show Cracker Barrel also has closed eateries in Columbia, South Carolina and Medford, Oregon. The Medford site, the last in that state, came a year after the company shut several others in Oregon.