The founder was a representative of Shell Oil Company. He created the concept (restaurant + general store) to help boost gas sales. He wanted a Southern theme establishment that reminded him of his childhood. As a result, the first locations were all at gas stations. I don't think it was until the 1970s that buildings started to be located away from a gas station. In terms of breakfast foods, Cracker Barrel is one of the few establishments that people can order grits and sawmill gravy (if they are in the mood to eat a version of sausage gravy). Even the local ma-n-pa diners started to go away from selling those items long before Cracker Barrel really took off which is a little odd since they are a staple in a "Southern breakfast." Growing I could still eat those foods at Shoney's, Howard Johnson's, or other similar (Southern) chains that existed in the Shen. Valley at the time. Chains like Denny's, IHOP, etc. had not made their way into the Valley. Probably because there wasn't enough business to support them. When HoJo's left town and then later Shoney's, Cracker Barrel was there to fill that void. I don't think to this day Denny's or IHOP has made its way to the central part of the Shen. Valley (think Harrisonburg area). If you live in that part of the Valley and want to eat at either restaurant, then you have to drive to either Winchester, Charlottesville, Roanoke, or maybe Lexington to find the closest one.