The cornbread kingpin strikes again, as Cracker Barrel acquires Maple Street Biscuit As part of the acquisition, Maple Street -- a quirky Jacksonville, Florida-based fast-casual chain with 33 locations -- will absorb Cracker Barrel’s previously acquired Holler & Dash Biscuit House locations. Biscuits + maple… Mmmmm. The country-style breakfast boss has been making serious moves The Maple Street buyout comes just months after Cracker Barrel invested up to $140m for a noncontrolling stake in Punch Bowl Social, an “eatertainment” (oh yes) chain with strong recent growth. It could be a smart diversification play, given the rise of the experience economy -- and gaining a competitive edge is key in the increasingly saturated fast-casual restaurant market. Recently, Cracker Barrel has seen a 0.7% dip in traffic, but it expects to flip the pancake -- I mean, decline -- through these recent investments. From gasoline salesman to cornbread kingpin… a tale as old as time The company’s journey has been pretty crazy since Day One: In 1969, Shell Oil rep Dan Evins opened a general store to sell gas and homestyle cookin’ along the burgeoning US interstate. Fast-forward to the 1990s; that little roadside stop exploded into a billion-dollar behemoth, and it has continued growing -- despite accusations of homophobia and racism that lasted well into the 2000s. Well isn’t that just gravy. Just how has Cracker Barrel continued rollin’ in the dough for so long? … Turns out, people REALLY love gift shops. The Southern comfort chain’s 19-year winning streak for “Best Family Dining Award” is thanks largely to its old-timey merch… or as they describe it, “unique gifts and self-indulgences, many reminiscent of America’s country heritage.” Tomato tomato.