Cracker Barrel has sold the Maple Street Biscuit Company brand and assets connected to 35 restaurants to Biscuit Belly. The remaining 16 locations will close, although a complete official list of affected addresses has not been released.
The transaction was completed on July 20, 2026. Acquired restaurants will remain open during their conversion to Biscuit Belly, while locations excluded from the sale will shut permanently. The purchase price was not disclosed.
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store is not included in the deal. Its approximately 660 flagship restaurants across 43 states are operating separately from Maple Street.
Which Maple Street locations are closing?
Cracker Barrel has not announced every closing restaurant or provided one nationwide closure date. Local reporting has confirmed the closure of the Bulverde Road and Quarry Village restaurants in San Antonio. The city’s Alamo Ranch location is included in Biscuit Belly’s conversion plan.
Customers should check local notices before visiting because acquired restaurants may continue using the Maple Street name until their rebranding begins.
Anyone with a gift card, reward balance, catering reservation or future order should contact the location directly. Neither company has issued comprehensive instructions explaining how these items will be handled during closures and conversions.
When will Maple Street become Biscuit Belly?
Biscuit Belly plans to convert the 35 acquired restaurants over 18 to 24 months and expects its network to exceed 60 locations by the end of 2028.
Florence, Kentucky, and Mason, Ohio, are scheduled for the third quarter of 2026. Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and the Virginia locations in Short Pump and Chesterfield are expected to follow during the fourth quarter.
Later conversions are planned across Florida, Georgia, Texas, Alabama, South Carolina and Tennessee. Biscuit Belly’s timetable currently identifies 31 acquired restaurants, leaving four locations without a published conversion period.
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What happens to Maple Street employees?
Biscuit Belly said it wants existing restaurant teams to join the expanded business. However, no public guarantee covers every worker’s position, pay, hours or benefits.
Cracker Barrel has not published detailed transfer or severance information for employees at the 16 closing locations. Affected workers will need guidance from local management.
Why did Cracker Barrel sell Maple Street?
Cracker Barrel said the sale would simplify operations, improve profitability and allow greater focus on its core brand. Maple Street contributed less than 2% of the company’s annual revenue.
The company acquired Maple Street for approximately $36 million in 2019. It now expects $37 million to $39 million in non-cash charges and another $6 million to $8 million in cash costs related to leaving the business.
The exit is expected to improve adjusted earnings beginning in fiscal 2027. Other restaurant operators have made separate portfolio changes, including those behind Papa Murphy’s store closures in 2026 and an Applebee’s franchise bankruptcy affecting dozens of restaurants.
Cracker Barrel raises $77 million from property sale
In a separate deal, Cracker Barrel sold 26 company-owned properties to an institutional real-estate investor for approximately $77 million. The company plans to use the proceeds to reduce debt.
The restaurants can continue operating because Cracker Barrel will lease the properties from their new owner. This releases cash tied up in real estate while creating continuing rent obligations.
What should customers check next?
The complete list of 16 closures remains the main unanswered question. Customers should confirm the status of their local restaurant instead of relying on unofficial lists.
Biscuit Belly’s official conversion schedule identifies restaurants planned for rebranding through 2028, although dates remain subject to change.
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