Cracker Barrel opens Monday

Cracker Barrel’s 598th store in 42 states will open in Hartselle Mon., Jan. 31. This view is from Highway 36, east.

Hartselle residents will no longer have to go to Cullman or Decatur to taste the homemade fixings of a Cracker Barrel restaurant.

The reason is a new Cracker Barrel Old Country Store will open in the southeast corner of the I-65 and Highway 36 interchange on Mon., Jan. 31. Three days earlier, the store will host a community appreciation breakfast for invited guests.

The newest store, No. 598, is similar in design but slightly smaller than the traditional Cracker Barrel, according to Julie Davis, senior director of communications. It has 8,900 sq. ft. of floor space and features the working cobblestone fireplace, retail store filled with nostalgic gifts and collectibles and traditional, homemade fixin’s that the store is known for across the country. Its popular dishes will include meatloaf and homemade chicken n’ dumplings as well as its signature family recipe biscuits.

Davis said the store is employing about 100 people, most of whom reside in the Hartselle area. They have been in training for the past two weeks.

Overseeing the operations of the store as general manager is Nathan Cryer who transferred from the Gardendale. Location. He has been employed with the company since 1998.

Stephanie Putman will fill the position of retail manager. She has been employed with the company since December 2008 and most recently serve d as retail manager in Florence. Before joining Cracker Barrel, she had over 15 years of experience in the retail industry.

“We’re very excited about being in Hartselle and look forward to becoming an important part of the community, “Davis said.

Cracker Barrel hours are 6 a. m to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.