Cracker Barrel Apologizes, Removes ‘Offensive’ Decoration
A patron at a Cracker Barrel restaurant in Connecticut pointed out the establishment’s decorations, noting that there seemed to be “nooses on the ceiling.” The restaurant chain has since apologized for these decorations.
Cracker Barrel later clarified that the “noose” was actually a wrapped cord attached to decorative items, but emphasized that it was “completely unacceptable” for employees to overlook their resemblance to nooses prior to displaying them.
Twitter user Alfonso Robinson shared images of the decorations, captioning the post: “Someone at Cracker Barrel in East Windsor needs to explain why there are nooses on the ceiling…”
Cracker Barrel replied to the tweet that same evening, stating that the “noose” decoration was “an original wrapped cord” associated with an “antique soldering iron” showcased at the East Windsor location.
The restaurant confirmed that the item has since been removed.
Activists visited the restaurant and engaged in a “positive” and “constructive” dialogue with restaurant manager Mark Smith, according to Keren Prescott, founder of PowerUp-Manchester.
Smith mentioned that the noose-like cord had been displayed on the premises for 22 years, yet no one had noticed it until the previous week. He invited Prescott to inspect the interior of the restaurant.
In an interview with the Journal Inquirer, Prescott remarked: “At one point the manager said, ‘You might notice things that I don’t,’ which I truly appreciated because as a White man, he may not perceive certain issues in the same way a Black person would.”
Several Twitter users have urged Cracker Barrel to conduct a review of all decorations across its locations or to establish a timeline for such a review to take place.
Cracker Barrel issued a statement to Fox News, stating: “We strive to foster a culture of hospitality that is welcoming, respectful, and inclusive to all who enter our establishments. While some of the historic décor in our locations may evoke earlier eras, our commitment to inclusivity is firmly rooted in the present.
“As we have mentioned before, the décor piece in our East Windsor location – an antique soldering iron with its original wrapped cord – should have been identified and rectified prior to being displayed, and it has now been removed. We appreciate the guest who brought this to our attention, allowing us to address this oversight.”