Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, September 19, 1995                   TAG: 9509190040
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: BUSINESS   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: RON BROWN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FINCASTLE                                LENGTH: Medium

A CRACKER BARREL IN TROUTVILLE?

But before a new restaurant is built, the company must get an exemption from Botetourt County's sign ordinance, which limits the height of signs along Interstate 81 to 35 feet. Cracker Barrel wants a 240-square-foot sign that's 55 feet high.

Ed McRae, the company's real estate manager for the mid-Atlantic region, said the sign is a major factor in completing the land purchase. "If it isn't allowed, it would be a severe obstacle to our plans."

Cracker Barrel backed off a similar plan in Roanoke County when it learned it would not be allowed to erect a sign higher than that locality's ordinance permits.

The company should face no such opposition from Botetourt County officials. About a half-dozen businesses near Exit 150 have signs exceeding 35 feet.

McRae said Cracker Barrel agreed several weeks ago to buy land from Relax Inc., which runs a new Holiday Inn Express near Exit 150. Jay Patel, president of Relax, applied for the sign exemption on behalf of Cracker Barrel.

The contract between Cracker Barrel and Patel voids the contract if the restaurant is unable to obtain the required permits.

Chuck Supan, county zoning and subdivision officer, said the matter will be considered by the county planning commission in October.

Cracker Barrel, which also has a restaurant in Christiansburg, reported a net profit of $57 million on sales of $640.9 million in its latest fiscal year. It operates 212 restaurants, most of them in the Southeast.

Company officials have said the Troutville restaurant and store could employ 80.