Cracker Barrel soon to see some changes.

[roadman65]

Maybe it's the Wisconsinite in me, but serving alcohol and a family environment are certainly not mutually exclusive.

Yep, the stories I heard when I lived in Superior of kids just loving it when Mommy and Daddy got drunk at whatever picnic were so heartwarming.

And now seeing grown ups get drunk in my past, I'm seeing what a mistake that was. True I never got hooked on drinking as I knew better, but many don't see it's wrong and copy grownups then and especially now.

[mgk920]

The old university campus cliché, you can easily tell which of your classmates were raised under strict Prohibition . . .

Also, BTW, the 18th Amendment was repealed over 90 years ago.  I honestly believe that we can FINALLY get over it now.

 

Mike

[Rothman]

The old university campus cliché, you can easily tell which of your classmates were raised under strict Prohibition . . .

Also, BTW, the 18th Amendment was repealed over 90 years ago.  I honestly believe that we can FINALLY get over it now.

 

Mike

We were talking about the darker side to family-friendly environments where alcohol is served.

See also planes where flight attendants don't cut people off early enough...

[SEWIGuy]

The old university campus cliché, you can easily tell which of your classmates were raised under strict Prohibition . . .

Also, BTW, the 18th Amendment was repealed over 90 years ago.  I honestly believe that we can FINALLY get over it now.

 

Mike

We were talking about the darker side to family-friendly environments where alcohol is served.

Right. And the resulting conclusion that somehow alcohol cannot be consumed unless it is abused.

[Rothman]

The old university campus cliché, you can easily tell which of your classmates were raised under strict Prohibition . . .

Also, BTW, the 18th Amendment was repealed over 90 years ago.  I honestly believe that we can FINALLY get over it now.

 

Mike

We were talking about the darker side to family-friendly environments where alcohol is served.

Right. And the resulting conclusion that somehow alcohol cannot be consumed unless it is abused.

Right, which is just as ridiculous as asserting that alcohol will never be abused in a family-friendly environment when alcohol is served.

[SEWIGuy]

The old university campus cliché, you can easily tell which of your classmates were raised under strict Prohibition . . .

Also, BTW, the 18th Amendment was repealed over 90 years ago.  I honestly believe that we can FINALLY get over it now.

 

Mike

We were talking about the darker side to family-friendly environments where alcohol is served.

Right. And the resulting conclusion that somehow alcohol cannot be consumed unless it is abused.

Right, which is just as ridiculous as asserting that alcohol will never be abused in a family-friendly environment when alcohol is served.

From my experience, the number of people who drink alcohol in "family-friendly environments" and get hammered is an incredibly small percentage of those who drink alcohol in such environments. In fact, I barely remember it ever being an issue.

And if somebody did get hammered at an Olive Garden and my kids were around, I would probably say "That guy's drunk. Eat your breadstick."

[jeffandnicole]

Disney sells alcohol.

Maybe there's someone that says "we're not taking the kids to Disney because they serve alcohol", but that's probably one of a long list of reasons why they don't want to go.

[Rothman]

The old university campus cliché, you can easily tell which of your classmates were raised under strict Prohibition . . .

Also, BTW, the 18th Amendment was repealed over 90 years ago.  I honestly believe that we can FINALLY get over it now.

 

Mike

We were talking about the darker side to family-friendly environments where alcohol is served.

Right. And the resulting conclusion that somehow alcohol cannot be consumed unless it is abused.

Right, which is just as ridiculous as asserting that alcohol will never be abused in a family-friendly environment when alcohol is served.

From my experience, the number of people who drink alcohol in "family-friendly environments" and get hammered is an incredibly small percentage of those who drink alcohol in such environments. In fact, I barely remember it ever being an issue.

And if somebody did get hammered at an Olive Garden and my kids were around, I would probably say "That guy's drunk. Eat your breadstick."

Eh, as a teetotaler, the number of times I've been with a group of friends and all of them -- except one -- drink responsibly has been many.  Just happened again a few weeks ago with just three of us:  Teetotaler, responsible drinker, drunk out of his gourd...

[SEWIGuy]

The old university campus cliché, you can easily tell which of your classmates were raised under strict Prohibition . . .

Also, BTW, the 18th Amendment was repealed over 90 years ago.  I honestly believe that we can FINALLY get over it now.

 

Mike

We were talking about the darker side to family-friendly environments where alcohol is served.

Right. And the resulting conclusion that somehow alcohol cannot be consumed unless it is abused.

Right, which is just as ridiculous as asserting that alcohol will never be abused in a family-friendly environment when alcohol is served.

From my experience, the number of people who drink alcohol in "family-friendly environments" and get hammered is an incredibly small percentage of those who drink alcohol in such environments. In fact, I barely remember it ever being an issue.

And if somebody did get hammered at an Olive Garden and my kids were around, I would probably say "That guy's drunk. Eat your breadstick."

Eh, as a teetotaler, the number of times I've been with a group of friends and all of them -- except one -- drink responsibly has been many.  Just happened again a few weeks ago with just three of us:  Teetotaler, responsible drinker, drunk out of his gourd...

Were you drinking at an Applebees?

[Plutonic Panda]

The old university campus cliché, you can easily tell which of your classmates were raised under strict Prohibition . . .

Also, BTW, the 18th Amendment was repealed over 90 years ago.  I honestly believe that we can FINALLY get over it now.

 

Mike

We were talking about the darker side to family-friendly environments where alcohol is served.

Right. And the resulting conclusion that somehow alcohol cannot be consumed unless it is abused.

Right, which is just as ridiculous as asserting that alcohol will never be abused in a family-friendly environment when alcohol is served.

Going full circle it's just as ridiculous as assuming one can't drink alcohol without abusing it. So what are you arguing about again? You think alcohol shouldn't be served at "family friendly" events and gatherings?

[hbelkins]

The old university campus cliché, you can easily tell which of your classmates were raised under strict Prohibition . . .

Also, BTW, the 18th Amendment was repealed over 90 years ago.  I honestly believe that we can FINALLY get over it now.

 

Mike

We were talking about the darker side to family-friendly environments where alcohol is served.

Right. And the resulting conclusion that somehow alcohol cannot be consumed unless it is abused.

Right, which is just as ridiculous as asserting that alcohol will never be abused in a family-friendly environment when alcohol is served.

From my experience, the number of people who drink alcohol in "family-friendly environments" and get hammered is an incredibly small percentage of those who drink alcohol in such environments. In fact, I barely remember it ever being an issue.

And if somebody did get hammered at an Olive Garden and my kids were around, I would probably say "That guy's drunk. Eat your breadstick."

Eh, as a teetotaler, the number of times I've been with a group of friends and all of them -- except one -- drink responsibly has been many.  Just happened again a few weeks ago with just three of us:  Teetotaler, responsible drinker, drunk out of his gourd...

Were you drinking at an Applebees?

Well, given his opinion of Olive Garden, we can be sure it didn't happen there. 

[ZLoth]

For whatever it's worth...

I'm a lifelong teetotaler, and have no good story behind it besides "I don't like the taste" and "I'm afraid of the consequences" since I have an addictive personality.

[mgk920]

For me nowadays, it is a draw between the outlandish COST and the dislike of the 'toxic effect' of having one too many and not being able to do what I wanted to do next.   

BTW, it has been the law in Wisconsin ever since 1933 (repeal of Prohibition) for a parent or legal adult guardian to serve their own minor children in any otherwise legal setting (such as a backyard picnic), unless whoever controls the setting sets a stricter rule.  Attempts have been made over the years to repeal that law, but every time the response has been a cross between "Is there a problem here?" and the university campus cliché.

Mike

[Rothman]

Although I loved my time in Superior, the dark side of living up there was the horrifying general apathy/acceptance that a certain number of kids would die in DUI accidents per year in Northern WI/the Arrowhead.

[snowc]

https://www.facebook.com/100064906143437/posts/pfbid0cX53Sj15h7tSiJQT3U4KoMeAop9jWWLpin1ep4mZAp6iyLK6ouyZAMXjjE5YYogel/?
Soon a new look and menu for this iconic roadside business.
https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/exclusive-mt-juliet-cracker-barrel-gets-new-look-and-menu/ For those not on FB.

No more hash brown casserole? 

[Big John]

Now Perkins is following suit: https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/25/food/perkins-new-name-remodel/index.html

[SEWIGuy]

Now Perkins is following suit: https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/25/food/perkins-new-name-remodel/index.html

Looks like a Panera.

[Life in Paradise]

Now Perkins is following suit: https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/25/food/perkins-new-name-remodel/index.html

Looks like a Panera.

Also kind of reminds me of 1980s era Bennigan's

[wanderer2575]

Now Perkins is following suit: https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/25/food/perkins-new-name-remodel/index.html

Looks like a Panera.

Also kind of reminds me of 1980s era Bennigan's

"Perkins American Food Co."?  Sounds like a foodservice distribution warehouse, not a place where one can expect a freshly-cooked meal.

[SEWIGuy]

I hate to break it to them, but it's still just going to be a Perkins. And the people who avoided it before will likely continue to avoid it. I haven't been to one in a long time, and I certainly won't now go because they refreshed their decor.

[seicer]

Does Perkins have memorable decor or food? The last time I went to one in college two decades ago, it was about as bland as any chain. A menu refresh with a new take on fresh foods could help revive the ailing brand.

Interestingly, a particular person has such a harsh take on someone enjoying a beverage with their meal at Cracker Barrel. I never thought that alcohol was a good fit for the restaurant, but alcohol sales can generate up to 30% of a restaurant's revenue (source). There are huge markups. But the push for mimosas at breakfast or Bud Light for dinner was relentless - between the three separate spots advertised at the meal, and while waiting, it felt out of place at a relentlessly conservative place. I'm not sure it's driven their declining sales, but the brand has stagnated.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

Perkins was treated like a revered adopted mom and pop chain in MSP for a long time, although that perception has waned in more recent years as they've receded like many stagnant national chains though it still has a heavy presence in the metro.

[seicer]

Perkins had the bakery going for them until it didn't. Cracker Barrel has the "general store" going for them, but that's now not a huge draw independent of the restaurant operations.

I didn't realize that Perkins was owned by... *checks notes*, a private equity investment firm. It declined substantially under their watch. It's now part of Ascent Hospitality Management, another private equity investment firm that also owns Huddle House.

[Rothman]

I could go for a tremendous twelve right now...

[jpi]

Sorry I'm just now seeing all this, most of you already know this but for those who don't, as of August 15 I am no longer associated with cracker barrel, I hit 30 years earlier this month and it was time to move on, also my wife and I are moving back to South central Pennsylvania by this fall