February 23, 2005
Cracker Barrel...in Brooklyn?
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?" Markowitz, slightly nonplussed, said, "I didn't know about their past; I've never been in a Cracker Barrel. I've already called and invited them. I can't now pick up the phone and say, 'Go, get out of here.'" This sounds like an awesome glimpse into what goes on in Borough President's offices: Cold calling companies to visit without researching them thoroughly.
Have you ever eaten at Cracker Barrel? Gothamist thinks we've had some of their cheese at a NJ mall in the 80s (an auspicious introduction to port cheese balls). The Daily News also posted these statistics: Cracker Barrel served 114 million slices of bacon, 127 million eggs and 18 million orders of chicken and dumplings. If there's an IHOP in Harlem, well, there very well might be a Cracker Barrel on Flatbush.
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Is there a difference between the Black Panthers and the Black Panters? A spin off group, maybe?
Thanks for the catch, George.
ok, so CB has a shady past. they also have heart-clogging food in an atmosphere akin to eating at aunt bessie's circa 1945. and don't forget the attached store where everything is "old timey." but dammit, CB, if i don't love you still. but probably not in brooklyn. why not do like in the rest of the country and post one next to I-95. that runs through the bronx, right?
btw - there are also two IHOPS on northern blvd in queens.
They have great hashbrown casserole...yum!!
Cracker Barrel is awesome...not something you want to eat all the time...but once every month or two...it's kinda like Union Picnic(williamsburg)...but with gifts...
Look, if they're going to try to get a chain eatery with the same multi-cultural sensitivity as Denny's couldn't they at least attempt to get a franchise with a little class and undeniable hipster appeal?
You know, Waffle House.
we have one already: williamsburg cafe.
I'm here in Ohio where you can't swing a dead Republican without hitting a Cracker Barrel and, though I haven't been to one in years, I must agree with Maddie that the hashbrown casserole is fine, but don't miss the fried catfish. If you eat a king sized portion I think they throw in a free angioplasty.
As for their history of not exactly welcoming people who aren't fat, white and hetero, my sister - who is a fairly politically active lesbian - tells me that CB recently began changing their ways. Apparently - and I have not independently confirmed this - Cracker Barrel now offers domestic partner benefits to employees, even same sex partners.
Still, there's a reason the word "cracker" appears in their name, and I'm still not convinced it has anything to do with little, crunchy bread-like things.
I'm a girl kisser and Southern, so maybe that overpowers in this case, but I have to admit, I love the Cracker Barrel. Their french toast with baked apples and whip cream or even just some hashbrown casserole and a glass of sweet tea can pull anyone out of a funk. The entire combination could save (but also potentially shorten) lives. It would be amazing to have it in the BK. People need to recognize.
"Of course, the Southern chain's history of discriminating against, oh, blacks, women, gays and lesbians"
Who needs to think when we have the gothamist to do it for us. Just because the restaurant has the word "cracker" in it doesn't necessarily mean that they have a secret agenda for world domination. I've never eaten in one but maybe their agenda is merely to sell cheeseburgers. maybe the gothamist should get up a petition to keep the 'crackers' out of her neighborhood.
My wife is from Mississippi and we try to stop at a CB whenever we visit her family. The food is great, though terrible for your health. There are a few CBs in PA (between Philadelphia and Harrisburg) and my NJ suburban friends say there are a few over there too.
I don't think CB's old-time store and '50s barn decor would fit in Brooklyn, but what the heck. At least they're not (yet) thinking of putting one in Times Square.
I just have to echo the sentiment of most people here--chain restaurants generally bite, but you can't hate on CB. Biscuits and gravy. Word.
Hmm, guess I'll have to be the lone voice of dissent on the "transplanted Southerner" ticket. Hate's too strong a word, but I'm not a big fan of Cracker Barrel. I don't think the food's that impressive, their restaurants are full of kitschy gift shop merchandise that purports to be "country" but is really just overpriced. Plus, I've never seen a CB that didn't have an interior the size of two football fields. Are they going to resize for Brooklyn?
Not to mention the menu is pretty unfriendly to vegans/vegetarians. I don't see this working without a major change in Cracker Barrel's normal mode of business.
Why did all of these people bother to move here if all they wanted to do was turn NYC into another South or Midwest? If you want bad chain food, go and live in Missouri or Ohio. If it were up to me, chain restaurants wouldn't be allowed in the five boroughs at all.
This is awful.
Yes, they do have a history of discrimination. See
here
and
here
for an introduction. This is not hipster group think prejudice against the south, Cracker Barrel should not be welcome in our lovely borough. Time to call Marty's Office: 718-802-3700
That was nice of you to listen to George and fix your error in the article. Now, why don't you go fix the one you made in the Connery article. Please? I'll give you a massage.
it is time to bounce the billionaire mayor and brooklyn's commerce-cock-gobbling beep. brooklyn has been "vitalized" for decades and decades without this crap. we don't need it or want it.
NYC is becoming NJ.
What we need is a WAFFLE HOUSE ! Ah the hashbrowns.
Ditto. I think Cracker Barrel has one dish for vegetarians -- a combination platter of their veggie sides -- and it just didn't live up to my expectations at all. I love candied yams, corn on the cob, etc., but everything tasted the same and each time I've been to CB it has been a major letdown. The gift shop is tempting, but it's also disappointing after about five minutes.
Greetings from Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic! I'm with my sister and her family. Her son gets treatments for autism in the D.R....I was contacted about "World's Second Home," and the NY Times writer said he also contacted Tien. Everyone seems to hate it...Wish someone could join me down here.
I researched the origin of "cracker barrel" and it should be in the American Dialect Society archives of the ADS-L mail list, www.americandialect.org. The term is not racist. I wouldn't trust NYC politicians or Al Sharpton on these things; always speak to an OED guy. Yes, a few people might THINK that "cracker barrel" is racist (remember "niggardly"?), but that doesn't mean that it's so. If Cracker Barrel thinks it can make money by opening a store in Brooklyn, that should be good news for everyone.
o.k. Jackie. I see your point and I apologize to the gothamist. In any case I seriously doubt that the cracker barrel would be foolish enough to set up in brooklyn. I suppose that if you are stupid enough to name your restaurant chain 'cracker barrel' you are bound to get bigots attracted to working there and others agitated simply by the name. I have a vague recollection of eating at a 'Sambos' chain restaurant when I was a kid. Probably conceived by the same marketing geniuses as the 'cracker barrel.' Still I have a problem with some government official designating who can and can not open a business anywhere. Councilman Charles Barron seems to think he is a gatekeeper for who is allowed to move to the neighborhood, which in itself is discrimatory.
I'll take a Cracker Barrel in place of our new Starbucks in DUMBO any day...
...no chance of that though... :)
could we maybe have 25 Cracker Barrels and no Nets Arena?
But where would the Nets fans eat? (Assuming they've come over from Jersey.)
Fuck Cracker Barrel.
To the people who think "Cracker Barrel" is a racist name and attracts racists... What version of crack PC PCP are you smoking? I've never heard a white person (I'm white, btw) refer to him or herself as a "cracker," and if so, never with beaming racial pride. Ok, proceed freaking out...
All this talk about Cracker Barrel is making me hungry...
oh my gosh, people! Being a girl who grew up in the south, I feel I must add my two cents:
A "cracker" is "white trash", ie. a desultory term for low-income people who usually live in trailer parks. Def:
http://www.slangcity.com/ask_ac_archive/cracker.htm.
Its not PC, but its not nearly as bad as using the N-word. A "cracker barrel" is a container for those little breadlike biscuity things.
As for CB itself, my guess is that the pols are calling multiple chain restaurants to see if one will come to our fine city. I'm not a fan of the food, but I think their rocking chairs are quite nice and the price is ok.
If you don't want CB in town, then don't go to eat there. Stay away, it will go out of business in NYC just like 90% of the restaurants in town.
um, we already have places like Applebee's, TGIF, and the Olive Garden in the city, I don't see why Cracker Barrel should be any different.
If it's as bad as you say it is, it'll disapear on its own for going out of business
Actually, if you can survive the gift shop on the way to your table, then you'll do pretty well. I can't remember having a bad meal there. In fact, I can't remeber having a great meal there. The attraction isn't the food, it's the chicken fried corn in your ear atmosphere crafted to make you think you are really eating in an old barn. It's a little overdone. The old timers love to go and sit in the rocking chairs lined up along the front "porch". The ones here in Florida are always crowded even after the snowbirds go home. It doesn't say much for the cuisine down here in the same way that the Rat House in Orlando doesn't say much for our culture.
Will you geniuses stop with the "if it sux it will fail" BS? Pushing that crap makes it seem like national chains work the same way local places do. They don't. The chains can keep money losing stores open with money earned out in the suburbs and red states. They can hold out a long long time that way, especially if doing so will eliminate competition or allow them to keep a big tax break. Look up the story of the Chevy's in Times Square if you doubt.
Or look at the Chuckie Cheese at Flatbush & Atlantic. Ratner built that with a sweetheart deal on the land. They survive because they don't pay market value for the space.
Wake up.
How about we leave the fate of this one up to Zagat's just like every other restaurant in town?
I don't think the issue is whether cracker barrel should build here, but rather should the city council be dictating who is allowed to build. I think I keep posting about this because I'm hungry as well.
Cracker Barrel food is not great, but it's okay. It certainly isn't worse than any other chain. I'm black, and I've never had any problems in any of the Cracker Barrels I've visited (VA, NC, SC, GA). I've gone in groups with gay people (who were obviously gay), and was never discriminated against in any way. If we avoided every business that had a history of discrimination, there wouldn't be anywhere to go to spend our money.
I'm just saying...
Damn Cracker ass Cracker!! Just wanted to say that......LOL
I think someone should open a NYC in the late 80's themed restaurant called....
CRACK WHORE BARREL
BTW, Gothamist, regarding your cheese recallection...I think you are confused with Kraft's Cracker Barrel cheese that is sold in supermarkets. I'm thinking that if you got a cheese sample in a mall, it was from Hickory Farms.
the only time I ever went in a cracker barrel was when I was n Florida and was having violent diarrhea and had to use a bathroom immediately. so now I associate cracker barrel with violent diarrhea. probably not the image the restaurant wants me to have.
The thought of CB anywhere near what used to be the most european city (and greatest) in the US and not off our interminable interstates makes me nearly break out in hives. To all who haven't been- the place is an abomination! It's worse than Disney, it's a black hole of the soul and it's everywhere else in the country but here. This monster feeds back what's worst in America and makes us like it, from the food to the decor to the corporation. No, Brooklyn. NO!
Other than the franchisee and Brooklyn's easiest date (aka: Marty Markowitz) who wants the Crackers in Brooklyn?
I used to really support Marty Markowitz. Now that he's proven himself to a shill I can assure you he's not getting my vote.
He can take Cracker Barrel and shove it up his Ratner!
Boy Marty really has some bizarre inferiority complex about Brooklyn - like it NEEDS to be endorsed by big outside corporations. “If Birmingham has it Brooklyn should too!” Seems to be the policy. Half the time he pipes up at all it is something about how great it would be if another T.G.I.F.’s or [insert MEGA chain here] opened up. What is truly hilarious is that then he claims that he’s a strong advocate for “neighborhood preservation”. Even better he has an “only in Brooklyn” newsletter which, you would think is about some great local legend or cool place, but instead is read more like Marty’s diary. I honestly have never really heard him extol the virtues of any “Brooklyn only” place but this isn’t the first outside chain that he has invited and it is perfect that he has never even been there! “It doesn’t matter what it is! Please Brooklyn needs outside validation!” Pathetic. He grew up here and think he must be feeling the sting over never having tried Denny’s.
Praxis-
New York is its own vibe. It ain't European, thank God.
And you don't know good Southern food chains until you've tried Chik-fil-a. When the hell are they gonna come to NY?
And everyone is so uptight about a little restaurant coming into NY. Why is it that everyone who tries to tell me what new york is or isnt, or to go to the Midwest to eat at chain restaurants, as if the Midwest is the 3d ring in Dante's Inferno, is always totally NOT from New York and just friggin moved here on daddy's credit card?
Hilton, the main issue is that while this city bends over backwards to kiss the butts of outsiders, the people who are here are just not getting a fair shake.
In the case of Cracker Barrel, the main issue is they have a history of somewhat racist behavior. It's ironically perverse when their name is "Cracker" Barrel. Why should Marty Markowitz who has actually gone out of his way to smooth over many race/class issues in this city deal with such a questionable organization.
I'm not happy about "Olive Garden" or "Applebee's" but I can tolerate that. I can't tolerate outwardly racist southern chain restaurants attempting to set up roots in this city.
Hilton -
Maybe people who have actually lived outside of New York are worried about chains because they have seen how eventually they overrun places - remaking them into anywhere. If you don't see how it happens you have very little understanding of economics. A big chain place is not "one little restaurant" it is backed by a whole set of economic powers that the small business person, pouring their entire lives into following their passion, is not. Even a lease agreement is totally different when you have a massive corporation behind you.
I didn't move here on anyone's credit card and I find it hilarious that people pay 6 times the rent for 1/5 the space to eat at the same places my friends do back home in Kansas.
the bottom line here is that NYC and Brooklyn are becoming likes the rest of america. so why not move to LA? At least we have good weather and beaches....
I for one am opposed to a franchise like Cracker Barrel coming to Brooklyn and muscling in on the racist turf of our finest storefront social clubs and longshore dives.
Is there anything more predictable than the trajectory of discussion when the topic of a chain store is raised on Gothamist?
Chain stores bad!
Midwest boo!
Mommy and Daddy's credit card!
I've lived here longer than you!
I'm broke and can't shop anywhere else!
[Public official] is a tool!
Don't vote for him/her!
Yeah!
Yeah!
Mighty guns of snark!
Feeble whining!
It's like the freaking tide. You could set your watch by this stuff.
Hell, if Cracker Barrel can set up shop in Flatbush, why not just build a Denny's in East New York?
Why not a Kennedy Fried Chicken in Great Neck?
What we NEED are more Taco Bells!
The one on Northern Blvd is large enough for the area but it has reached capacity since people from as far as Brooklyn go there. This threatens to put a crunch on my supply of Tacos and Bean Burritos.
To hell with Cracker Barrel. Gothamist needs more stories about Taco bell.
For those of you that think that "cracker barrel" is some sort of racist term...uh...it's just another name for a cookie jar!! Geez!!
Oh man, Chik-Fil-A....I'll trade Marty one Cracker Barrell and all his Taco Bells for five or ten Chik-Fil-As. Talk about, er, charismatic corporate mission statements (closed on the Lord's Day, etc), but I can guarantee you you'll never have a fast food experience where people come around the place to refill your drink and offer you free brownies and temporary tattoos. Plus the waffle fries.
If Brooklyn is going to import Southern food, please let it be Richmond, VA's Bill's BBQ.
Pulled pork sandwich with a side of hush puppieds and a large limeaid = a little slice of nirvana for $4.
I was going to mention all the places Brooklyn should import food from, but I really don't want anyone to know about them. I'll be really vague.
There's a place outside of Destin, a place near the river in the Quarter, and a couple of places down in the Delta that they should import. None of these places charges over $10 and all fill you up and make you happy.
One of the few things I miss about the south.
About the only thing I miss from living in the South is decent biscuits and gravy. Cracker Barrel will do in a pinch, but you can't beat Bob Evans -- and red gingham is totally the new black. I invited them to open shop here, but I'm not an elected official and they weren't impressed. Even so, they sent coupons for their grocery line of frozen sausage and biscuit sandwiches.
mmmm.... how about a Popeye's? I love Popeye's. They blow KFC out of the water.
Why is it that New Yorkers take such great pride in being the melting pot of the world, but for some reason (if commenters here are representative) think that there's no room in the pot for Southern culture? You've got Chinatown and little Italy, why not hillbilly village? As an actual native and resident of the South who also likes NY a lot, I can see where transplanted southerners would like to have a place to get a taste of the old country (or ol' kuntry as they would probably spell it on stereotype reinforcing signs in my neck of the woods). In a city of millions, there have to be thousands of former southerners who would welcome the familiar taste of butermilk biscuits and sweet tea. All of the other open-minded, progressive types could also expand their cultural horizons just a bit.
"...there's no room in the pot for Southern culture..."
Bryan, I have nothing against Southern Culture. And I don't think most people have any problems against Southern Culture. But I tihnk the majority of people out there are taking issue with Cracker Barrels very recent racist past.
I love going to "Dallas BBQ". "Krispy Kreme" is awesome as well. "Cracker Barrel". Well, they are simply an organization that seems to have a checkered past of institutionalized racism. Plain as that. And I don't support places like that. Most people don't. and Marty Markowitz is a showman who actually has good sides to him, but it's baffling how he can support such a company.
What's open-minded and progressive about accepting a racist company into a melting pot of a city? Especially one that goes out of the way to settle their main lawsuits out of court.
Southern racism is not a cultural horizon I want to expand to.
I went to law school in the middle-of-nowhere Ohio (a three year-long sentence that absolves me from any past or future transgressions, far as I'm concerned). The only thing that made that time bearable was the food at the CB two towns over. I was born and raised in NYC and don't know squat about "Southern" whatever. But I do know what good food is: thick, crispy slabs of bacon, perfect eggs, an amazing hash-brown casserole, grits, and biscuist and gravy! Obviously, if you eat this stuff more than once a fortnight or so your heart will explode. But it's one of life's little pleasures.
To protest Cracker Barrel's arrival on the scene on the grounds that its past racism will besmirch some phantasmagorical state of progressivity is like protesting that the see-through blouse Jenna Jameson is wearing on that DVD cover reflects poorly on her virginity.
As for the argument that Cracker Barrel's proclivity for "settling out of court" on so many lawsuits suggests concentrated corporate mendacity ... Newsflash, bozo. That's how most lawsuits end.
Ultimately I don't see how it makes the slightest bit of difference whether Cracker Barrel opens a restaurant in Brooklyn. So they set up shop, hire some locals for a few crappy jobs, and belch out a few heart-clogging entrees. So what? If it wasn't Cracker Barrel it would be somebody else. It's just one more thing for self-styled "progressives" to get hysterical over on internet chat boards and then do nothing about.
for the record the cracker barrels around the interstates in cleveland are brand new chains.
do not lump northeast ohio in with the rest of the state, they are in the process of seceding anyway.
Ballwasher, we're not talking past history as in 100 years ago. We're talking withing the 21st century. If not them, it will be someone else? Good. Please let it be someone else. Yeah, I'm not progressive for not supporting an organization with endemic racism. Oh well, I guess I'm "closed minded".
Read on and get educated:
http://www.naacp.org/news/2004/2004-09-09.html
Specifically:
"The plaintiffs and witnesses have accused Cracker Barrel of engaging in a pattern of discrimination against African American patrons, reporting discriminatory violations in more than 200 cities. The amended complaint filed in the case includes 21 new plaintiffs, bringing the total number of plaintiffs to 42, and 96 new witnesses, bringing the total to 408. Cracker Barrel is one of the nation's largest restaurant chains, with approximately 450 restaurants in 41 states. It employs approximately 40,000 people.
According to the amended complaint, the restaurant's discriminatory conduct includes: denying service to African American customers and their associates; allowing white servers to refuse to serve African Americans; seating African American customers and their associates in a segregated area (often in the smoking section of the restaurant); and requiring African American customers and their associates to wait longer to be seated or served than white customers.
Over 50 witnesses claim that managers directed servers to seat African American customers away from white customers. More than 400 witnesses, including Cracker Barrel customers and current and former employees, support the plaintiffs' claims. The witnesses, roughly one half of whom are white, describe "a culture of racism." They claim they have observed African American customers treated rudely, subjected to racial slurs and served food that was taken out of the trash. In the suit, plaintiffs and witnesses further claim that this behavior was ignored or even condoned by Cracker Barrel management."
Did sumbody say Noo Yerk Sit-tay?! Yee haw, yoo ding-dang Noo Yerkers sher git yerself all werked up over silly ol' Cracka Barrel! YEEE HAW!!
The issue here, folks, is not Cracker Barrel so much as it is Marty. If Cracker Barrel wants to come to Brooklyn, buy a lot, build a restaurant and hire workers, that's their business. We can vote on their racist tendencies with our pocketbooks.
But pandering to a lousy national restaurant chain is emblematic of Marty's embrace of the worst of what the rest of the country has to offer at the expense of Brooklyn and Brooklynites. From Ikea to Bruce Ratner, Marty is hell-bent on turning our beloved borough into the Mall of America. Enough already.
And the idea that he can't revoke his invitation after learning of Cracker Barrel's little race problem? Ha! What's next: "I can't call Dennis Rader and tell him not to come just because it turns out he's BTK?" C'mon, Marty.