Cracker Barrel is coming to Fresno after all.

A local retail broker, Commercial Retail Associates, has reported to The Bee’s leases section that Cracker Barrel has signed a lease. It’s going into a 9,170-square-foot space at the southwest corner of Herndon Avenue and Riverside Drive, part of the Marketplace at El Paseo near Highway 99.

Retail brokers help businesses find places to rent and property owners find renters. The agents working on this deal were Sam Bogdanovich and Nathan Negri. Bogdanovich would not comment; Negri could not be reached.

Cracker Barrel has been rumored to be opening a location in Fresno for months. The Bee first reported in February that the Tennessee-based restaurant chain may be coming to town. The restaurant’s name appeared on El Paseo’s website under “coming soon,” but Cracker Barrel would not confirm it was coming.

Also Thursday, a Cracker Barrel representative declined to comment.

The down-home, country-style store and restaurant has long been on Fresno residents’ wish list of businesses they want to see here. Many locals hit up the restaurant while traveling.

Cracker Barrel serves classic American dishes like meatloaf and “chicken n’ dumplins” and has locations in more than 40 states. It’s not clear yet when it will open.