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These days, you need to carbo-load just to make it through the subways. (Who knew we'd all become amateur spelunkers?) And for one very special day, you'll have a prime opportunity to load up on biscuits, fried chicken and much more before you brave the MTA.
Cracker Barrel, the Southern restaurant chain known for its chicken and dumplings, front porch rocking chairs and general store-meets-diner aesthetic, is rolling into New York City with a pop-up that promises a full-on “taste of country” in the heart of the Meatpacking District. On Thursday, August 21, from 10am to 6pm, Gansevoort Plaza will temporarily transform into a slice of roadside Americana, complete with homestyle bites, line dancing, lawn games and plenty of gingham.
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But the food isn't the only draw. Country star Jordan Davis (about to kick off a 19-city headlining tour in September) will stop by to give a free outdoor performance at 1pm. Think of it as a front-row seat to Nashville without having to sit on a tarmac for three hours. There will also be a VIP lunch (first-come, first-served), where you can sample some of Cracker Barrel’s most popular dishes, from crumbly biscuits and fried okra to meatloaf that tastes like it was pulled straight out of grandma’s kitchen.
True to the brand’s homespun hospitality, Gansevoort Plaza will be dotted with the iconic rocking chairs for lounging, games like checkers and oversized Jenga and arts-and-crafts stations to keep kids entertained. Some lucky visitors might even score limited-edition Cracker Barrel swag. There’s also a miniature replica of the company’s iconic roadside restaurants.
The event is part nostalgia trip, part Southern sampler platter and part clever stunt: bringing the comforts of a highway pit stop into one of Manhattan’s busiest neighborhoods. Whether you’re a homesick Southerner, a country music fan or just curious to finally sample a chain restaurant that hasn't cracked NYC yet, this one-day takeover is bound to be unlike anything else happening downtown.
So grab your boots, pack up your appetite and head on down to the Cracker Barrel. Do it for the infamous peg game, if nothing else.