Searcy officials held a press conference today to announce their decision to bring a new attraction to the town at the end of the month.
One city official said workers would begin construction on the nation’s largest Cracker Barrel at an empty lot on East Beebe-Capps Expressway on April 22.
“Residents have been asking for this food option to come to Searcy for years, and we could not be more thrilled about this long-awaited development,” the official said.
The completed wooden barrel will stand at 20 feet tall and will have the capacity to hold up to one million crackers, featuring a variety of different types such as saltine, wheat and graham. The city official said the new attraction will not only provide selfie opportunities for tourists from across the state, but it will also provide free crackers to help end Searcy’s hunger crisis.
“This is our next step in helping to feed the community, one cracker at a time,” the official said.
Searcy resident Hannah Martin said she has heard rumors about a Cracker Barrel coming to Searcy for years, so she was excited that the project was happening.
“My prayers have finally been answered,” Martin said. “I will definitely be at the barrel on opening day to take pictures with my friends.”
At the press conference, officials also announced that the national chain restaurant, Cracker Barrel, will open a business in Searcy this fall. However, due to increased urbanization and competition for space in the area, the restaurant will occupy a 200-square-foot building connected to the Ready 2 Go gas station on East Race Avenue. The new space will include seating for up to 10 people, and the restaurant will offer a limited menu of pancakes, eggs, bacon and crackers.
Officials said the chamber of commerce is already planning a celebration for opening day in September, complete with a triangle peg game competition and photo opportunities with the restaurant’s mascot, Old Timer, who will be traveling to Searcy from his home in the Wild West to attend the event.
Assistant professor of communication Lori Sloan oversaw a group of students who campaigned last semester to bring a Cracker Barrel restaurant to Searcy. Junior Zach Bishop said the campaign was a great learning experience for him and his fellow students.
“With the current popularity of tiny homes and similar trends, we really just tried to encourage people to think small and find a way to fit quality food into a tiny space,” Bishop said.
