Dream job

We came to Georgia from Tennessee over twenty years ago.  One day our family was watching one of our favorite shows, Tennessee Crossroads.  It was a show about Tennessee stories, things and places that would be of interest.  One of the stories was about the Lebanon, Tennessee warehouse full of antiques that are used to decorate the Cracker Barrel stores.  One of my boy’s said, “Mama that would be your dream job”!  and I certainly agreed.  What antique lover wouldn’t totally enjoy scouring the country on someone else’s dime for amazing vintage treasures?

That job has actually been done by members of the same family since 1969.  Larry is the current member of the Singleton family in charge of scouring the country for great decor for the Cracker Barrel restaurant chain.  Every single one of the 650 stores has been decorated with antiques procured by the Singleton family.    There are so many wonderful vintage items that are meticulously cataloged in a huge warehouse in Tennessee.

The Cracker Barrel collection contains over 80,000 advertising signs, 5000 food containers and many lots of smaller items.  Every Cracker Barrel contains a vintage traffic light,deer head, horseshoes, an old cast iron stove and oxen yoke.  The warehouse has a mock store where designers lay out the items that they will be using in a new store and then the items are shrink wrapped and sent to the newest Cracker Barrel.

Many items are bought in bulk, especially when Larry comes across new old stock.  He also purchased a huge lot of old roller skates when a rink went out of business,  Mr. Singleton has been collecting for Cracker Barrel for over forty years.  He travels the country because the company likes to use local vintage advertising from the region the store is in which gives it a personal touch.  

The next time you are in the Cracker Barrel take a good look around and appreciate all the amazing antiques adorning the walls and ceilings.  See if you can find the 1917 Bacon tin that was used for rations in World War I.  A loyal customer gave it to our own Perry Cracker Barrel as a gift since it was his favorite place to stop and eat.  Mr. Red Underhill passed away some time ago but I think of him every time I see that bacon tin.  Happy Collecting!