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California-based cupcake chain Sprinkles will permanently close all of its stores, according to the company’s founder and former owner.
Candace Nelson announced the chain’s store closures on Wednesday, Dec. 31, in a social media post that read, “Today is the last day at Sprinkles.”
The caption of Nelson’s post said, “We are deeply grateful to our fans, customers, and community for coming out and celebrating with us and making Sprinkles a part of our tradition, and to the team that made it all happen. We will always be proud of what we have built.” “My heart is with the Sprinkles employees today.”
Nelson said she started Sprinkles in 2005 with nothing but “a KitchenAid mixer and a big idea.” Since then, the company has expanded across the United States, including Arizona, Florida, Nevada, Texas, Utah, and Washington, DC.
As Sprinkles expanded, it introduced Cupcake ATMs, which are 24/7 vending machines that allow customers to purchase cupcakes and sometimes cookies even after business hours.
The Sprinkles store closures came after Nelson sold the business in 2012, according to her social media posts. KarpReilly, LLC, a private equity firm, announced its investment in Sprinkles in January 2013.
“It’s surreal to see this chapter come to an end, and the way the story unfolded was not what I imagined,” Nelson wrote in the post.
Why is Sprinkles closing?
Nelson offered no insight into why Sprinkles might close stores, but said she has “no ownership or operational involvement in the company.”
Sprinkles is a private company, so it is not required to publicly disclose its financials, including revenue. According to the Sprinkles website, the chain has 21 stores and 25 cupcake ATMs.
USA TODAY reached out to Sprinkles and KarpReilly on Wednesday, Dec. 31, but did not receive a response.
Sprinkles customers share stories ahead of potential closure
In his post, Nelson asked customers to share “stories about how Sprinkles Cupcakes added a little sweetness, comfort, or connection to (their) lives.”
Dr. Chantal Landerville, a California board-certified physician, commented under Nelson’s post: “Our snack after a long day of studying in medical school was sprinkles, and I remember my brother and sister-in-law serving them instead of cake at their wedding. I remember getting 6 of them because I wanted them all, but I remember being confused afterwards (how did I know there was a limit of 2 per person?!). Forever my favorite snack and it reminds me of friends and family.”
Instagram user Suto Estrada wrote, “My best friend and I planned a road trip to LA just to go to Sprinkles. It was the highlight of our high school years. Riding in cars, having adventures in different cities,… We ate the cutest cupcakes. During the pandemic, we finally ended up living in the same city again and ordered Sprinkles cupcakes almost every week, and our sweet treats were the highlight of lockdown.”
Other commenters expressed support for Nelson & Sprinkles employees who may be affected by the closure.
Jonathan Limehouse covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Please contact JLimehouse@gannett.com..
