Cracker Barrel, a renowned restaurant chain, found itself in hot water recently when a customer raised concerns about certain decorations within one of its Connecticut establishments. This incident prompted an apology from the company, which clarified the nature of these decorations and took swift action to address the issue.
Decorations Misinterpreted
The controversy began when a customer noticed what appeared to be “nooses” hanging from the ceiling of a Cracker Barrel restaurant in Connecticut. However, it was later revealed that these items were not actual nooses but rather wrapped cords attached to decorative pieces. Despite this clarification, Cracker Barrel acknowledged that it was “completely unacceptable” for its employees to have overlooked the potential resemblance to nooses when setting up the decorations.
he incident gained traction on social media, with Alfonso Robinson tweeting pictures of the decorations and questioning their presence in the restaurant. Cracker Barrel responded promptly, explaining that the “noose” decoration was, in fact, a wrapped cord from an antique soldering iron as part of the display at the East Windsor restaurant. The company assured the public that the item had been removed.
Positive Conversation with Activists
In the aftermath of this incident, activists visited the restaurant and engaged in what was described as a “positive” and “constructive” conversation with the restaurant manager, Mark Smith. Keren Prescott, the founder of PowerUp-Manchester, noted Smith’s openness to addressing the issue. Smith acknowledged that the cord resembling a noose had been displayed in the restaurant for 22 years, and no one had raised concerns until recently. He invited Prescott to examine the premises and better understand the situation.