[ALERT] Maple Street Biscuit Company Just Closed 14 Locations

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, the beleaguered Southern comfort food chain, recently announced plans to shutter fourteen locations of its fast-casual subsidiary, Maple Street Biscuit Company, during fiscal year 2026 (ending July 2026). This move, revealed in the company's latest earnings release, represents about 20% of Maple Street's current footprint. 

Maple Street, known for its gourmet biscuits, fried chicken sandwiches, and brunch fare, was acquired by Cracker Barrel in 2019 for $36 million. At acquisition, it had 33 locations across seven states.  In 2020 Cracker Barrel converted its seven unit Holler & Dash Biscuit House business to Maple Street units including one on Howell Mill Road in West Midtown. 

By late 2024, the company had grown to 69 units, per Technomic data. Expansion, however, has stalled: no new stores opened in Q4 of fiscal 2025, and two closed, including those in Lexington, KY and Seminole, FL.   

Earlier forecasts for 9 – 11 new units in 2024 were slashed, followed by plans for just four in 2025.  The closures stem from Cracker Barrel's renewed focus on its core brand, which has faced sales slumps and backlash over a short-lived rebranding. 

CEO Julie Fells Masino, appointed in 2024, prioritized capital for Cracker Barrel's 660+ restaurants. CFO Craig Pommells stated in May 2024: "Our top capital allocation priority is investing in the core Cracker Barrel business... Therefore, we have decided to slow down Maple Street’s unit growth in the short term while we work on improving that business model."   

A recent report by Fast Company, which was confirmed by Maple Street, indicates that the 14 store closures recently took place and span six states, with half of the affected units in Texas.  None closed in Georgia.  Other states that did see restaurants close were South Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Ohio.   

Maple Street currently operates six units in Georgia, including five in metro Atlanta and one in Savannah.  

1085 Howell Mill Road in West Midtown (Westside Ironworks) 

3550 W. Lawrenceville Street in Duluth (Parsons Alley)  

1131 Ernest W. Barrett Parkway in Kennesaw (Barrett Corners)   

50 Canton Street in Alpharetta (Downtown Alpharetta) 

2295 Towne Lake Parkway in Woodstock (Towne Lake Square shopping center) 

220 W Broughton Street in Savannah (Downtown Savannah) 

Following the closures, the company will continue to operate more than 50 Maple Street Biscuit Company locations.  

Are you surprised that the company is for now keeping open all of its Georgia Maple Street locations?  What is your favorite breakfast spot in metro Atlanta?  Do you think West Midtown will make a comeback in 2026?

Please share your thoughts below.