Cracker Barrel Apologizes for Service Denial Incident

Cracker Barrel has apologized after a group of 11 special education students and their teachers were denied service at its Waldorf, Maryland location during a community-based instruction outing. The incident, which occurred on December 3, involved students with disabilities who were told by the restaurant's management that they could not accommodate their group and should be removed from the approved dining list. Parents expressed outrage and sadness, with some planning protests, as they felt their children were treated rudely and ignored. Cracker Barrel attributed the incident to a staffing issue rather than discrimination, stating that they could not properly accommodate the group size. Superintendent Maria Navarro criticized the treatment of the students and expressed hope for better cooperation in the future. The school district previously notified the restaurant about the visit and group size, but was told no reservation was needed.