Cracker Barrel Protested by Parents of Special Needs Children. Here’s Why

Cracker Barrel is under fire by parents, who claim that the popular restaurant refused to serve their special needs children. The workers who engaged in the practice were fired, but the parents said this wasn’t enough. Let’s take a look at what happened.

A Cracker Barrel in Maryland Is at the Heart of the Controversy

According to USA Today, after a group of youngsters with special needs and autism were refused dine-in service at the Maryland Cracker Barrel earlier this month, dozens of community members, including parents of the children, gathered outside the establishment to protest on Dec. 16.

Superintendent Maria Navarro said in a statement that a group of 11 students and seven employees from the Charles County Public Schools District were turned away from the Cracker Barrel in Waldorf, Maryland, when they tried to dine there. As a component of community-based education, the field trip allowed special education students to interact with the general public and practice real-world skills.

“Prior to the Dec. 3 visit,” wrote Navarro, “CCPS staff notified the establishment of the planned visit, including how many were in the party, and shared the CBI purpose of the visit. CCPS staff was reportedly told by restaurant staff that no reservations were necessary.” 

She continued, “Upon arrival, the students and staff were declined service and asked to no longer include the restaurant on its CBI list. The group was able to place a carry-out order.”

“Our students and staff are our No. 1 priority, and we are disheartened to learn about the alleged treatment they received while participating in an activity designed to educate our students using real-world applications,” she concluded. “The alleged treatment of CCPS students and staff at Cracker Barrel is one that no one should experience. However, it is encouraging to learn that the district manager said the business would be willing to work with CCPS to do better.”

In a statement obtained by PEOPLE, Cracker Barrel confirmed that following the event, three employees of the store, including the general manager, were fired.

“Senior Cracker Barrel executives met [with] leadership and teachers from the school as well as the parent community to hear their concerns directly,” the company said in the statement. “We also shared the actions we have taken and are taking to address recent missteps at that store location. These actions include completing an internal investigation with guest and employee interviews, separating three members of the store’s team, including the General Manager, moving forward with specialized training for all employees at this particular store, and bolstering the already robust training we provide to managers nationwide.”

The company, however, insisted that the refusal to seat the special needs children was due to a “staffing shortage.”

The Restaurant Revealed Its Holiday Menu

In other Cracker Barrel news, the company revealed its holiday menu early last month. This menu included classic favorites and six new holiday dishes.

Highlights include decadent breakfast selections like the Cinnamon Swirl French Toast Breakfast and Signature Fried Apple French Toast Bake, along with festive drinks like the sparkling Plum Mimosa and the DIY Hot Chocolate Bar that can be customized. The slow-braised Pot Roast and Hashbrown Casserole Shepherd’s Pie are options for heartier meals. Along with Cracker Barrel’s traditional Country Fried Turkey, guests can also savor seasonal sides and pies.

The full holiday lineup includes:

• DIY Hot Chocolate Bar
• Sparkling Plum Mimosa
• Signature Fried Apple French Toast Bake
• Cinnamon Swirl French Toast Breakfast
• Pot Roast
• Hashbrown Casserole Shepherd’s Pie
• Broccoli Cheese Casserole
• Sugar Plum Tea
• Country Fried Turkey
• Pecan Pie, Chocolate Pecan Pie, Apple Streusel Pie, Cinnamon Roll Pie, and Pumpkin Pie

Cracker Barrel also offered a hassle-free Thanksgiving meal to its patrons last month.