Portland, Oregon, once a thriving city known for its food, culture, and natural beauty, is now facing a crisis of crime, homelessness, and drug abuse that is driving away businesses and residents alike. The latest victim of this urban decay is Cracker Barrel, the popular restaurant chain that serves Southern-inspired comfort food and sells country-themed gifts.

Cracker Barrel announced last month that it is closing its last remaining location in Portland, citing the impact of the pandemic on its business. However, employees told a local news station that the real reason behind the closure was security issues in the area, where theft, vandalism, and drug use are rampant.

The area where Cracker Barrel was located, is littered with drug paraphernalia, clothes tags, and abandoned shopping carts. Customers who tried to visit the restaurant on Tuesday were greeted by a sign that read “Closed Permanently”. Some expressed shock and disappointment at the news, while others said they understood why Cracker Barrel decided to leave.

Cracker Barrel is the latest business to flee Portland, Oregon as the crazy liberal utopia continues to implode. Just 11% of Portland voters now believe the city is headed in the right direction: https://t.co/L1QndgMbO8

— OutKick (@Outkick) March 28, 2023

This economic downturn for major retailers is one of many issues that have plagued Portland in recent years. Shootings have tripled since 2019 while homicides have reached record levels. Car thefts have doubled since 2019 which is indicative of a much greater problem with crime in the area. Portland’s homelessness crisis has also gone unresolved while police staffing levels have declined almost 200 sworn officers since 2019 making it even more difficult to maintain order within the city limits.

According to reports from 2020, over 2,600 businesses in Portland had closed their doors due to a combination of factors including the pandemic and political unrest. To those of us with common sense, we all know why they leave and how this is ultimately going to play out if this trend continues. Some of the biggest cities are going to become completely rundown and in ruins if they don’t give up on their radical leftist agenda.