A Cracker Barrel restaurant in Connecticut found itself at the center of controversy after a customer spotted what appeared to be “nooses on the ceiling.” The discovery sparked outrage, prompting the popular chain to issue a formal apology.
Cracker Barrel clarified that the “nooses” were actually wrapped cords used to hang décor items. However, the company acknowledged that it was “completely unacceptable” for employees to overlook how the decorations resembled nooses before putting them up.
The issue gained attention after Twitter user Alfonso Robinson shared photos of the ceiling decorations, captioning his post: “Someone at Cracker Barrel in East Windsor needs to explain why there are nooses on the ceiling…”
Cracker Barrel quickly responded to the viral tweet that same evening, explaining that the “noose” was actually an original wrapped cord attached to an antique soldering iron displayed at their East Windsor location.
The restaurant confirmed the controversial item has since been removed.
Activists who visited the restaurant described their conversation with manager Mark Smith as “positive” and “constructive,” according to Keren Prescott, founder of PowerUp-Manchester.
Smith revealed that the noose-like cord had been on display for 22 years without anyone noticing — until last week. He even invited Prescott to take a closer look inside the restaurant.
Speaking with the Journal Inquirer, Keren Prescott shared, “At one point the manager said, ‘You might notice things that I don’t,’ which I really appreciated because as a White man, he might not view certain things the same way a Black person would.”
The incident sparked a wave of calls on Twitter, with many urging Cracker Barrel to conduct a thorough review of all decorations across its locations — or at least announce a clear timeline for such a review.
In response, Cracker Barrel issued a statement to Fox News:
“We work hard to create a culture of hospitality that’s welcoming, respectful, and inclusive to everyone who walks through our doors. Some of the historic décor in our stores may be reminiscent of earlier times, but our inclusive culture is firmly grounded in today.”
“As we previously stated, the décor item in our East Windsor store—an antique soldering iron with its original wrapped cord—should have been identified and removed before being displayed. It has now been taken down. We sincerely thank the guest who brought this to our attention, allowing us to promptly correct this oversight.”