End of an Era: Sprinkles Cupcakes Shuts Down All US Locations
Renowned cupcake chain, Sprinkles Cupcakes, has announced the permanent closure of all its outlets nationwide effective from January 1, 2026. This marks the end of a 20-year journey that significantly transformed the gourmet cupcake industry. The closure impacts 20 stores spread across six states and Washington D.C., along with 25 cupcake ATM locations.
The company’s founder, Candace Nelson, who sold the business to private equity firm KarpReilly in 2012, confirmed the closures in a heartfelt Instagram video, expressing, “This isn’t how I thought the story would go.” The sudden announcement left employees with just a day’s notice before their termination, triggering a wave of anger on social media as many workers were notified on December 30th for a December 31st closure.
Established in Beverly Hills in 2005, Sprinkles gained fame for initiating the haute cupcake trend and launching the world’s first cupcake ATM in 2012. The bakery won endorsements from celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Barbra Streisand, and other high-profile personalities. The Los Angeles Times lauded it as “the progenitor of the haute cupcake craze“.
Source: WFAA