Overview
- In a statement to Fox News Digital, Cracker Barrel said it operated normal hours and served its standard menu on New Year’s Day.
- Fox News reporting, cited by The Independent, indicated the chain quietly ended its New Year’s practice by no longer publicizing free black‑eyed peas.
- Black‑eyed peas are a longstanding Southern New Year’s dish associated with good luck, which heightened scrutiny of their absence.
- Customers vented on social media, with some threatening boycotts and accusing the brand of catering to “woke” pressures.
- The reaction follows 2025 outrage over a logo and restaurant redesign that was reported to wipe $94 million from Cracker Barrel’s market value in a single day, while the timing and rationale for the peas decision remain unconfirmed.