Cracker Barrel Sells Maple Street Biscuit Co., Plans Location Closures

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, July 28, 2026

Cracker Barrel has sold its Maple Street Biscuit Co. brand and 35 locations to Biscuit Belly LLC while planning to close 16 additional restaurants. This move allows Cracker Barrel to streamline its portfolio and provides Biscuit Belly an opportunity to expand rapidly by rebranding and converting the acquired locations over the next two years.

Cracker Barrel has sold its Maple Street Biscuit Co. brand and 35 of its locations to Biscuit Belly LLC, marking a significant shift in its fast-casual breakfast business. The company also plans to close 16 additional Maple Street Biscuit Co. restaurants following the sale. This announcement comes less than a year after Cracker Barrel shut down 14 Maple Street locations in September 2025, citing underperformance relative to financial goals.

Maple Street Biscuit Co. was initially acquired by Cracker Barrel in 2019 for $36 million. The Jacksonville, Florida–based breakfast chain, founded in 2012, operates a menu focused on biscuits and other breakfast items. At the time of acquisition, the chain included 28 company-owned and five franchised restaurants across seven states.

In a concurrent transaction, Cracker Barrel completed a sale-leaseback agreement involving 26 of its company-owned locations. This arrangement involved selling the properties to an investor and immediately leasing them back, a move expected to generate approximately $77 million in net proceeds for Cracker Barrel.

Biscuit Belly, which opened its first location in 2019, stated that acquiring Maple Street Biscuit Co. will accelerate its growth plans in the Southeast. The company aims to expand its footprint to more than 60 locations by the end of 2028. According to Biscuit Belly, the existing Maple Street locations will be rebranded and converted to Biscuit Belly units over the next 18 to 24 months, with conversions beginning in markets such as greater Cincinnati and Richmond, Virginia.

Chad Coulter, cofounder and CEO of Biscuit Belly, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition, noting that acquiring an established brand like Maple Street was unexpected. He highlighted the challenges faced by growing restaurant brands, such as securing suitable locations and assembling strong teams, factors that influenced Biscuit Belly’s decision to pursue the acquisition.

Cracker Barrel’s decision to divest Maple Street Biscuit Co. assets and close underperforming units appears aligned with an effort to streamline operations and focus on more profitable segments within its portfolio. Meanwhile, Biscuit Belly’s plans signal an ambition to strengthen its presence in the fast-casual breakfast sector by absorbing an established competitor’s operations.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.