From their site: https://guestrelations.crackerbarrel.com/s/article/About-Us#WheredidCrackerBarrelgetitsname
When our founder, Dan Evins, opened the first Cracker Barrel, he was passionate about recreating old country stores from his childhood along interstates and highways so that travelers would always have a place to stop, relax, get a good country meal and feel at home. Crackers used to be delivered to those old country stores in barrels, and people would congregate around them to discuss the news of the day – they were the original water coolers! Since the restaurant was meant to help people reconnect with friends and family over a good meal, it was a fitting name.
When you first walk into a cracker barrel, there is a small store that sells everything from knick knacks, clothing, jewelry, home decorations (candles, pictures), toys, stuffed animals, candy, bottle sodas, etc. It is basically a bit like a “tourist trap” style place, but not as tacky and more focused in what they sell. It does have a bit of a “down home” vibe to what they carry, but I’ve had a time or two where I’ve seen stuff there that wouldn’t be found in other stores in the area. An example would be soda/candy - they carry some classic stuff, but also carry stuff that would normally just be a regional thing.
Almost all of them are laid out the same way - you enter through a set of two double doors (helps with heating/cooling) and enter the store. The “store” portion itself is usually just a big rectangle with the hostess for the restaurant portion in the back corner. Along the side wall of that same corner, where you can pick up some candy/treats, as well as pay for anything from the store and/or for your meal in the restaurant.
You enter and exit through the store. It isn’t as common anymore, but “back in the day” places were a mix of places to buy stuff, but also get some food. They are set up in a similar fashion - you can go there just to eat, but they have odds/ends for you to check out as well.
Not sure if they still do it, but one of the more interesting thing they used to do was offer “books on tape” or “books on CD”. You could check them out from one store then return them to any other store. I had an aunt that would grab that when she was going to be on the road for a few days, as they usually had stuff that was newer than the local library, etc.
Both them and Bob Evans offer “take home meals” that we’ve started ordering for the major holidays since my mother, aunt, and grandmother have passed. It is nice to be able to have a “big holiday meal” without all the prep/cleanup. Not exactly “cheap”, but considering the amount of time you save and stuff you’d have to buy, not much of a “splurge” either if you want a nice family meal like that for the holidays.