Cracker Barrel “Finds” Through the Years

beach-mom · ‎03-09-2010

Please post some of the memorable items you have found and bought at CB!

For me, about 30 years ago we were driving from Texas to visit our families and stopped in Savannah to see my old house. We ate at CB and bought a beach umbrella that looked like a watermelon. They're popular now, but back then you didn't see them as much.

Strangers always asked where we got it. And it was always easy to find where we were on the beach!

It finally gave out, and by that time we had more sophisticated umbrellas, but I still wish we had it!

Another time we were driving to visit DH's family. His stepmother loved candles, and she loved apples. Her kitchen had them all over. We found a large "apple" candle, in a heavy clear glass container, apple-scented with 6 wicks. When his dad died I tried to find it, but someone else had already taken it.

I've bought so much through the years!

amyb · ‎04-05-2010

Mostly it was the yummy, fattening, comfort food breakfasts we've enjoyed there, bisquits, grits...stuff I don't usually make at home.

As for the gift shop...the only things I recall, but I still have them...little velvet embroidered decorative pillows, and a few in a lighter weight pretty waffle material, also embroidered. The bigger ones just have embroidered flowers on them. The little ones say things like Joy, Love, and other things I can't recall now. I don't always have them out. Last winter I took the velvet ones out from storage and used them to accessorise my bedroom rocker, and on the bed.

Also in the past bought some natural gemstone hearts.

And loved to get old timey candy and gum flavors there too, that you never see elsewhere anymore, from the past. Beekman's?...the licorice gum and the other had like a gingery flavor, I forget what you call it.

I hope this thread does not get "controversial" and poofed...and hope everyone shares anything they've gotten from there they've enjoyed.

But I will miss the old vibe. We enjoyed the "trip back in time" feeling of the place, and to me, THAT was it's identity and draw.

It was kinda corny, but cozy.

Might be because I'm a Boomer, so it actually feels nostalgic to me and also my mom's generation...may not going forward, so I guess I get their "dilemma" to try to remain popular, relevent?

But nah. I just don't personally like what they've done...took away it's identity, which I feel still had a folksy appeal. I see even young people getting into old timey antiques now and what they call "grandma core." A yearning a bit away from everything being so modern and stark.

Making it some bland, generic, updated version of itself with no real identity any different from every other "white washed" farmhouse vibe chain restaurant...meh. And the new "logo?" Seems like a purely lazy, uninspired "redesign" with no clear branding. It's the old sign, made bland, with the old colors that don't even jive with all the new white decor. Yea, imo...it wasn't broke, but now they've lost their way.

qvcfreak · ‎03-10-2010

This Angel. I think she's beautiful, weighty and well done. I've given it as gifts and in person looks so much more expensive than $25

amyb · ‎04-05-2010

@qvcfreak I love her! She's serene and beautiful.

Beammeupscotty · ‎02-25-2024

I have bought cute sweatshirts there, toys for the kids/grands, maple syrup, cast iron pans, candy. Too numerous to mention!

Are they still going to have the merchandise area?

on the bay · ‎03-09-2010

One of my favorite things I got is this-$29.99. The shutters are more of a weathered white like shutters at the beach would be and much brighter and lighter than the picture.

The frame is a shabby chic white wood. It looks better in person and is done so well.

Beach Shutter Wall Decor

they dont' have these anymore but I have 2 textured green glass servers with pewter handles that look like twigs with a little bird sparrow perched on the edge of the handle.

Also no longer sold, a white winter large fur (fake of course) pillow with evergreen trees and snowflakes etched into it. Really beautiful.

"If you walk the footsteps of a stranger, you'll learn things you never knew. Can you sing with all the voices of the mountains? can you paint with all the colors of the wind?"

Zhills · ‎11-15-2011

My favorite "finds" at Cracker Barrel were Kits candies. Loved all the flavors. Was so happy when I found them.

They didn't last to show! I think they still have them!

pdlinda · ‎10-23-2011

@beach-mom Please indulge me with my ignorance...I have been to Paris, London and Rome, to most U.S. states, many locations around the world....HOWEVER, I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO CRACKER BARREL!

I looked at their locations near where I live in Phoenix and there is no Cracker Barrel anywhere near me! Every neighborhood where they have a store is very far from my home....HMMM.

My inclination is to accept that if I lived this long without visiting the classic Cracker Barrel, it's a sign that with the new shift in policy, it's simply not "meant to be." LOL

Seminole2 · ‎01-16-2020

Since I can't post pictures, about 5 years ago I bought a really pretty lamp for my mom. She loved cardinals. This has a gorgeous glass shade frosted with cardinals and the base is a bronze heavy metal. Sadly she passed away almost 2 years ago. It's now on our dresser and is my memory of her. She also had a few shirts from there that lasted as long as she did

Also, they carried Charles Chips!

And my last purchase over 4th of July is the Fireside Crackling Candle.