Cracker Barrel in Pierce County? Here are results of our recent business wish-list poll
Turns out, local residents aren’t always craving something fancy or salmon-centric for a family feast out, but instead something more like the biscuits, beans/cornbread and Southern-fried chicken menu of Cracker Barrel.
The Southern-style gift shop/restaurant chain was one of the prevailing “other” choices submitted by News Tribune readers in a recent poll asking what restaurant, grocery and store brands they’d like to see enter the Tacoma market.
About 1,400 participants took the time to vote on brands we suggested, plus add their own suggestions. Here’s a sampling of the suggestions followed by the poll results.
Restaurants
Washington is one of a handful of states where Cracker Barrel does not operate. Oregon became the latest one after the chain’s last restaurant in that state closed in April in Medford. Three other Oregon locations closed in 2023.
Yet, if you find yourself clamoring for a fried feast or a photo op in one of Cracker Barrel’s oversized rocking chairs, you can find the restaurant just across the state line in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, among other Idaho locations.
Coming in close behind Cracker Barrel was a variation of the response of “none,” with readers stating Pierce County already has enough chains and needs more local businesses.
One respondent wrote: “No fast food. No national chain. Need a brewpub with good beer and good food, like Red Hook used to be in Woodinville.”
Other “other” suggestions from readers that received multiple mentions: Chili’s, Dick’s Drive In, Whataburger, Dunkin Donuts, Waffle House, P.F. Chang’s.
One respondent drilled down further: “Something TRULY kid friendly (covered outdoor space, perhaps? Think every family dining establishment in the South, especially Texas!) where adults can still get good food and adult beverages.”
Home stores
For home improvement, the suggestions from readers were not nearly as numerous as for restaurants, but the long-suffering former Lumber Liquidators (now LL Flooring) was far and away the winner.
The retail chain for discount flooring in September announced it was going out of business nationwide, with itself being liquidated. A private-equity firm tied to the company’s founder offered a rescue plan in U.S. Bankruptcy Court that same month, with some stores to remain open.
The chain includes a store in Tacoma at 3001 S. Huson St. Suite A1, just south of Center Street.
In 2015 Lumber Liquidators was the subject of a critical “60 Minutes” investigation about its products sourced from China. That led to settlement of a massive class-action lawsuit and company rebranding as LL Flooring, among other changes.
The Container Store was the only other entry in The News Tribune poll with more than one vote. Its closest location is Westfield Southcenter.
Grocers
As for grocers, H-E-B and Whole Foods tied for “other,” among the respondents’ entries. H-E-B is based in San Antonio and has not ventured outside Texas and Mexico — no plans even to expand to neighboring New Mexico, let alone Washington state.
Whole Foods already has one location in Pierce County, in University Place.
Other runners-up included Harris Teeter (a Kroger brand found in the South and eastern United States) and Metropolitan Market (which has stores in Tacoma and Gig Harbor).
One respondent (we’re guessing from Lakewood) was not only brand but location specific, stating “Winco in Lakewood, Costco (in) Lakewood.”
Other grocery banners listed: Market of Choice, Wegmans (primarily Northeast and mid-Atlantic U.S.), Harbor Greens (local grocer in University Place and Gig Harbor), Great Harvest Bread Co. and Publix (southeastern United States).
There was one vote for Uwajimaya Asian Grocery & Gift Markets, whose flagship is in Seattle’s International District but with other locations in Bellevue, Renton and Beaverton, Oregon.
The family-owned chain of supermarkets started with its original founder in 1928 in Tacoma, until he and his family were swept up in the internment of Japanese Americans after the U.S. entry into World War II. Following their release, they relocated to Seattle.
And the winners are ...
As for the actual poll choosing among the listed entrants, here are the top vote-getters:
What national restaurant chain would you like to see in our community?
Winner: In-N-Out 52%
Runner-up: Burgerville 13%
Other entrants and percentage of votes: Raising Cane’s (12%) Culver’s (8%) Portillo’s (8%) Other (7%)
What national grocery chain would you like to see in our community?
Winner: Trader Joe’s 52%
Runner-up: Aldi 24%
Other entrants and percentage of votes: Sprouts (13%), None (9%) Other (2%)
What national home goods/home improvement chain would you like to see in our community?
Winner: IKEA 39%
Runner-up: Crate & Barrel 18%
Other entrants and percentage of votes: None (12%) Pottery Barn (11%) Williams Sonoma (10%) Menards (9%) Other (1%)
So, will the winners heed the call of the people?
Responses to the poll from top vote-getters generally garnered thanks to the readers but no big announcements, yet.
“At this time, we do not have any information to share on an ALDI development coming to Tacoma,” was ALDI’s response via email.
Trader Joe’s media representative Nakia Rohde recommended people listen to two of the grocer’s podcasts: Inside Trader Joe’s, Episode 52 — “How to Make a Trader Joe’s (Part One),” and Episode 5 — “Please Won’t You Be My Neighborhood Store,” to learn what it looks for in locations.
“We are actively looking at hundreds of neighborhoods across the country, hoping to open more new neighborhood stores each year,” Rohde said via email.
Representatives for IKEA and Crate & Barrel did not respond.
In-N-Out’s representative was complimentary of the Tacoma area, but it was still a “not at this time” response when asked about expansion plans to Pierce County, unlike Burgerville, which, turns out, does have this area in its expansion sights.
Representatives for In-N-Out, while praising the area and thanking readers for their support, are not quite ready to commit to Pierce County.
“We consider it a compliment to learn that your readers thought so highly of us and would like to see In-N-Out Burger in Pierce County,” said Mike Abbate vice President, store development for the chain, in an email.
Abbate noted that while “requests and feedback from prospective communities” are important factors in selecting new locations, In-N-Out is not working on “any projects north of our future Ridgefield location at this time.”
The News Tribune reported earlier this year that In-N-Out is expanding into Washington state with its first two proposed locations in Ridgefield and Vancouver, Washington.
“While we won’t be there in the near future, we do know Tacoma and the surrounding area are beautiful communities, and we appreciate the customers we hear from there,” Abbate added.
This story was originally published December 18, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
