Cracker Barrel said no to Fresno, but in a few months the first will open in California

So Cracker Barrel thought about opening up in Fresno.

Then suddenly changed its mind and backed out of a lease.

And now, the popular down-home, country-style store and restaurant has targeted February for when the first Cracker Barrel Old Country Store will open in California – in the high desert city of Victorville, of all places.

Victorville has a population of about 122,000. Throw in nearby Apple Valley, Hesperia and Adelanto and you reach 322,000. Fresno all by itself has more than 522,000 residents, and Fresno County clocks in at nearly 1 million.

Go figure.

“All our stores have antique decor on the walls (no replicas), which we customize to the local community,” Breeanna Straessle, manager of corporate communications for the Tennessee-based company, said in an article by Victorville Daily Press. “Our design team will begin researching Victorville and selecting the antique decor in the coming weeks.”

Will you be willing to trek out to Victorville to try California’s Cracker Barrel?

The store will be about 250 miles away (nearly a four-hour drive).

Of course, one could always make a 40-minute detour from Barstow on the drive to or from Las Vegas to visit the restaurant that got away (from Fresno).

The Victorville restaurant will be in a 10,000-square-foot building, with the ability to seat 180 guests at one time.

This Cracker Barrel will be the 649th chain restaurant/store to open and is expected to generate 250 full and part-time jobs.

Cracker Barrel was expected to open in northwest Fresno in Marketplace at El Paseo near Highway 99 and Herndon Avenue.

Excitement immediately was generated in anticipation of Cracker Barrel’s arrival.

But roughly two months later, it was learned that Cracker Barrel backed out of a signed lease.

A company spokesman had declined to comment why it pulled out of Fresno. And the developer of the shopping center also was mum.

There’s been no indication that Cracker Barrel will reconsider opening in Fresno.

Cracker Barrel markets itself for “pleasing people with our delicious home-style cooking, and gracious service defines our country spirit.”

Most notably, the restaurant serves breakfast all day.

Once the Cracker Barrel in Victorville opens and establishes the first location in California, the restaurant chain will be located in all but five states throughout the country.

For more information, visit www.crackerbarrel.com.

This story was originally published August 1, 2017 at 10:32 PM with the headline "Cracker Barrel said no to Fresno, but in a few months the first will open in California."