Tennessee’s Cracker Barrel is facing serious allegations from a former employee who says her time at the restaurant was marred by repeated racism.
Roberta Mendez, a Black waitress, has filed a federal lawsuit claiming that white coworkers routinely targeted her with offensive language — and that management largely ignored her complaints.
Allegations of Bigotry and Physical Abuse
According to Mendez’s August 21 lawsuit, she was called the n-word, a “burnt biscuit,” a “monkey,” and a “b**ch” by colleagues.
She also alleges that her shift leader told her as recently as August 2024, “I don’t like Black people.”
Mendez, who began working at the Nashville-area Cracker Barrel in 2015, claims that white employees were treated better than her despite her consistently meeting or exceeding performance expectations.
The lawsuit also alleges that she was “physically pushed and hit” and that management segregated Black employees from their Caucasian counterparts.
Management Allegedly Ignored Complaints
Mendez says she reported the harassment to her managers, assistant managers, and the general manager, Jack Kinle.
However, she claims that in 2023, after raising her concerns, Kinle retaliated by issuing a write-up.
When Mendez escalated her complaints to Human Resources, she says she was only told not to sign the write-up — and no real action was taken.
In August 2024, Mendez submitted a formal HR complaint about mistreatment of herself and other Black employees.
By the following month, September 28, she was fired and told it was due to breaking company policy.
Her attorney, Kyle Biesecker, told The Independent that the lawsuit speaks for itself and that depositions will likely confirm Mendez’s allegations. She is seeking reinstatement and compensation for lost wages.
Controversy Follows Cracker Barrel’s Rebrand
The lawsuit comes amid ongoing public backlash over Cracker Barrel’s recent logo and brand redesign.
On August 19, the chain unveiled a new minimalist logo for the first time in 48 years, removing the iconic image of the old man leaning on a barrel and eliminating the pinto bean shape that referenced the restaurant’s original menu.
Critics argued that the redesign stripped away the chain’s charm and heritage, causing nearly $100 million in lost value in just one week.
CEO Julie Felss Masino initially defended the changes in an August 21 Good Morning America interview, saying, “Cracker Barrel needs to feel like the Cracker Barrel for today and for tomorrow — the things that you love are still there.
We need people to choose us, and we want people to choose us.”
Backlash Forces Reversal
Despite Masino’s confidence, customer backlash persisted.
By August 26, Cracker Barrel announced it would revert to its original logo, thanking customers for their feedback:
“We said we would listen, and we have. Our new logo is going away and our ‘old timer’ will remain.”
The stock briefly rose 2.3 percent after the announcement but has since returned to prior levels.
A Brand in Turmoil
Between accusations of workplace discrimination and a public relations nightmare over its rebrand, Cracker Barrel is navigating a turbulent period.
Both the lawsuit and the logo controversy are drawing national attention, highlighting challenges that go beyond menu changes and marketing decisions.