Just days after Cracker Barrel unveiled a new logo and sparked backlash from patrons, one of the restaurant chain’s co-founders is weighing in.
Tommy Lowe, 93, co-founded Cracker Barrel in 1969 alongside his late friend, Dan Evins. The company was started as a restaurant and country store that accompanied a filling station in Lebanon, Tennessee.
With the help of 10 investors, Lowe and Evins curated a unique experience that grew into one of the country’s most popular restaurant brands. Cracker Barrel’s recognizable branding, down-home menu, and more than 600 convenient locations alongside the interstate system made the brand a staple for families and weary travelers in search of a comforting meal.
Tommy Lowe responded to recent Cracker Barrel branding changes.
Lowe recently sat down with Nashville’s News Channel 5 for an interview to address recent changes to the restaurant that he poured his heart into. He said the company’s original vision and concept were simple.
“It was just a country store for country people, and that’s what it is today,” Lowe said before adding that the current company leadership doesn’t understand the brand.
In early 2024, just months after being named CEO of Cracker Barrel, former Taco Bell exec Julie Masino announced that the company would be rebranding with new decor, a new menu, and pricing changes. The news was met with criticism, but it was Masino’s reveal of a new logo that sparked major backlash.
and beloved Uncle Herschel following backlash.
(Photo credit: Cracker Barrel/Facebook)
Fans expressed their outrage over the rebranding, which also caught the attention of President Trump, who encouraged Cracker Barrel to restore the old logo.
“Cracker Barrel should go back to the old logo, admit a mistake based on customer response (the ultimate Poll), and manage the company better than ever before,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
Tommy Lowe agreed and called the logo “bland and pitiful.”
Lowe added that he disagrees with the direction Masino is taking the restaurant.
“They’re trying to modernize to be like the competition – Cracker Barrel doesn’t have any competition. I heard she (Masino) was at Taco Bell. What’s Taco Bell know about Cracker Barrel and country food? They need to work on the food and service and leave the barrel – the logo alone,” Lowe said.
Lowe shared that late Grand Ole Opry legend String Bean visited the restaurant shortly after it opened and told him, “It looks good, but just keep it country.” The former Cracker Barrel VP said that the current leadership should follow that advice.
“If they don’t get back to keeping it country, then it ain’t gonna work.”
Watch Tommy Lowe’s full interview in the video below:
Cracker Barrel ditched the new logo following intense backlash.
On Tuesday (August 26), Cracker Barrel announced that it would be bringing back the “Old Timer” due to public demand.
In a post shared to social media, the company wrote, “We thank our guests for sharing your voices and love for Cracker Barrel. We said we would listen, and we have. Our new logo is going away, and our ‘Old Timer’ will remain.”
We thank our guests for sharing your voices and love for Cracker Barrel. We said we would listen, and we have. Our new logo is going away and our “Old Timer” will remain.
— Cracker Barrel (@CrackerBarrel) August 26, 2025
At Cracker Barrel, it’s always been – and always will be – about serving up delicious food, warm… pic.twitter.com/C32QMLOeq0