News Summary
Cracker Barrel has permanently closed its Tunnel Road restaurant in Asheville, N.C., citing performance evaluations. The company remains committed to the area, including support for affected employees and investments in local partnerships, despite ongoing challenges. Future expansion plans are still underway as the chain focuses on enhancing customer experiences.
Asheville, N.C. – Cracker Barrel Closes Tunnel Road Location
The Cracker Barrel restaurant on Tunnel Road in Asheville, North Carolina, has permanently closed its doors as of July 8, according to a confirmation from the restaurant’s media relations team. This decision was made after a thorough evaluation of the store’s performance against various criteria to meet the needs of both guests and the business.
Visitors to the former restaurant location recently encountered an empty parking lot, signaling the end of the establishment’s operations. The company has stated that the decision to close any store is not taken lightly and emphasizes a commitment to providing support to the impacted employees and managers during this transition. A severance package will be offered to those affected, as well as opportunities for transfers to nearby Cracker Barrel locations.
Cracker Barrel’s Dedication to Asheville
Despite the closure of the Tunnel Road site, Cracker Barrel remains committed to the Asheville area. The company has indicated that it continues to invest in the local market, evidenced by a recent remodel of another location on Crowell Road. Furthermore, Cracker Barrel is partnering with Rathbun House, a hospitality house that supports families of patients at local healthcare facilities, to donate helpful retail products.
Corporate Performance and Future Plans
The restaurant chain operates 661 locations across 45 states and has been addressing ongoing concerns regarding its future amid rumors of additional closures. Company representatives have clarified that Cracker Barrel is not closing all of its restaurants, and recent closures in Oregon resulted from pandemic-related evaluations of store performance.
Additionally, Cracker Barrel has no plans for any further store closures beyond those that have already been confirmed. Despite the challenges faced in Oregon, the company is actively expanding, with a new location recently opening in Fort Worth, Texas, and another one set to open soon in Reno, Nevada.
In their latest financial report, Cracker Barrel indicated that earnings were lower than anticipated. However, the company’s CEO has expressed confidence in its strategic priorities, focusing on enhancing guest experiences and improving the business model for future value creation. Cracker Barrel remains dedicated to maintaining a strong presence in the culinary landscape while discovering avenues for future growth.
Conclusion
As the Tunnel Road location closes its doors, Cracker Barrel continues to aim at enhancing customer satisfaction and stabilizing its operations while addressing employee welfare during the transition. The company’s ongoing investments in the Asheville area and strategic expansion plans convey its commitment to evolving its business model amidst a changing market landscape.
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Additional Resources
- WLOS: Cracker Barrel Closes Tunnel Road Location
- WCNC: Cracker Barrel Not Closing All Stores
- USA Today: Restaurants Open on New Year’s Day 2025
- WRAL: What’s Open and Closed on Easter Day 2025
- Wikipedia: Cracker Barrel

Author: STAFF HERE ASHEVILLE WRITER
ASHEVILLE STAFF WRITER The ASHEVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREAsheville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Asheville, Buncombe County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Asheville Bread Festival, LEAF Festival, and mountain sports tournaments at Biltmore Estate. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and Explore Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau, plus leading businesses in hospitality and brewing that power the local economy such as the Biltmore Estate and Sierra Nevada Brewing Company. As part of the broader HERE network, including HERECharlotte.com, HEREGreensboro.com, HERERaleigh.com, and HEREOBX.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into North Carolina's dynamic landscape.