Commack, NY - July 12, 2018 - When taking a road trip out of the Long Island region, there’s almost always one stop in particular that’s considered a must when your tummy starts growling- yes, we’re referring to the one and only Cracker Barrel.
The homey and quaint southern-style restaurant chain is a vastly popular attraction almost anywhere you go due to its delicious and hardy menu options and old-time country gift shop; the chain currently operates approximately 650 stores in 45 states. However, the fact that a Cracker Barrel has yet to grace the confines of Nassau or Suffolk County – the closest locations are in Mt. Arlington, NJ and Milford, CT, both at 80+ miles – has only served to increase its mystique to near-legendary levels.
While rumors of a Cracker Barrel finally opening on Long Island in 2015 turned out to be unfounded, local residents who dream nightly of cheese hash brown casserole, eggs in a basket, and chicken fried steak may finally have cause for celebration, as according to Newsday, Norcross, Georgia-based Venture Construction Company – long-affiliated with Cracker Barrel and responsible for building and/or renovating over 300 of their restaurants – has submitted an "invitation to bid" for electrical work for a restaurant to be constructed on vacant piece of property on Crooked Hill Road in Commack. The bid, due by July 18, states that it relates to the "new construction of a Cracker Barrel" and that the proposed ground-up project is for a building that is slated to measure “9,170 square feet” with a “covered porch that is 1,316 square feet.”
In addition, a second company with strong ties to Cracker Barrel, U.S. Ideal Company, has also submitted an invitation to bid for plumbing work for a proposed Cracker Barrel at the same Crooked Hill location in Commack, strengthening the possibility that Long Island may finally see a Cracker Barrel of its own at last; however, nothing is set in stone as of yet.
Calls from LongIsland.com to Cracker Barrel did not result in confirmation that a Long Island-based restaurant from their chain was indeed coming any time in the near future. Also, Cracker Barrel communications coordinator Jane Shehane reportedly told Newday that the company had no concrete answers as of press time regarding a new Long Island location.
“While we're always considering opportunities for new locations, we have no announcements to make at this time about opening a new store in Commack," she said.
While a Cracker Barrel may indeed be coming, it’s always wise to hope for the best but prepare for the worst- currently, the construction companies in question may merely be appraising the area in Commack and evaluating its commercial potential for future development. LongIsland.com will follow-up on this story if and when more information becomes available.