Did you know the names Dan “Danny” Evins and Cracker-Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. are one in the same? You can’t have one without the other. They were joined at the hip. Naturally inbreeded.
Did you know that Danny Evins was born in Smithville, Tennessee on October 11, 1935? He was the youngest child of Estelle McCartney and William Jackson Evins. For many untold years, “Miss Estelle” was a teller at Smithville’s First National Bank, which is now Region’s Bank.
Surprise. Evins was the founder of the highway eatery empire. Not to mention, his entire family originated in Smithville, Tennessee. The almost-shy entrepreneur later transferred to Lebanon in Wilson County, Tennessee. Evins net worth was $27.8 million as of December 8, 2003. The local entrepreneur owned over 89,750 units of Cracker Barrel stock totaling $10,565,865. These totals were submitted before Evins’ death in January, 2012 – 13 years ago. Yesterday, if you owned Cracker Barrel stock, then you’re probably rich today. It’s grown immensely.
The popular restaurant chain began in 1969 as a single store in Lebanon, his home quarters. The business expanded across the southern United States before it became the gravy and biscuits capitol that it is today. The chain went public in 1981 and now employees more than 67,000 people at 600 locations in 42 states.
When locating a restaurant along the interstate, Cracker Barrel is noted for its weather-beaten wooden architecture offering the best “home cooking” found anywhere. According to a story in the “Washington Post” newspaper, “The eating experience is always the same, regardless of the location.”
Before being seated in the restaurant, guests walk through a “Country Store” stocked with wares such as rock candy, marmalades and wooden toys. Not to mention, the best-looking clothing assortment anywhere around. When reaching their table, guests are given a brown-paper menu featuring such items as country ham, homemade biscuits, meat loaf, chicken ‘n dumplings and fried chicken. Other delectables include turnip greens, corn, and country-fried steak. Cumulatively, if one is good, there will be a large bowl of blackberry cobbler with a dollop of vanilla ice cream awaiting in the kitchen for later consumption. The tables are regular-size without tablecloths. There is a peg-game on each table for customers to challenge themselves or others. Along with the table game and with visiting the adjacent gift shop, the waiting time for your meal to be served seems to be almost halved.
Just recently, the establishments have added a holiday take-out menu to be enjoyed at home – and I tried it and I liked it! The main entree was chicken and dressing and several side items! The pricing is not outrageous but accommodatingly priced.
After the meal, guests are directed to the spacious front porch featuring lines of around 20 wooden rocking chairs, which are also for sale and competitively priced and affordable.
Evins owed his Cracker Barrel success to two insights: The first was American life in the second part of the 20th century; and, the second was the influx of the interstate highway system.
To backtrack to the 1960’s, Evins was employed at the oil company founded by his grandfather as a “jobber” or wholesaler. This occurred at the Shell Oil Company. Later, he built a gas station in Lebanon, located off the main highway. For it to be different, he added a small restaurant and gift shop and called it the “Cracker Barrel.” While other roadside businesses were pursuing a more-modern look, Evins wanted to overload his customers with nostalgia. There is no doubt that he succeeded!
Cracker Barrel became a quick success. Evins soon removed the gas pumps and added grits and country ham. This occurred during the 1970’s. Until his retirement in 2004, Evins served in every capacity inherent at the meal establishment and corporation.
Danny Wood “Dan” Evins was born on October 11, 1935 in Smithville, Tennessee. He was graduated from Castle Heights Military Academy in Lebanon and later served in the Marine Corps. He attended Auburn University in Alabama before beginning his career. As a young man, he worked as an aide to his uncle, Rep. Joe L. Evins of Smithville, Tennessee before joining the family’s Shell oil company.
Before his death of bladder cancer on January 14, 2012 at 76, Evins explained the old-fashioned appeal of his restaurant: “We aimed for authenticity,” he told Forbes magazine, “but without the outhouses.”
Following his death, Evins personnel estate in Lebanon, Tennessee was auctioned in 2015 for $4.6 million.
Today, Cracker Barrel is worth $1.49 BILLION with total revenues (2024) of $935.4 million. It is listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange as CBRL.
Not bad for a stock market business conceived as an interstate gas station offering home cooked grits and country ham.
