National bakery chain abruptly closes all locations after 20 years
The national bakery chain known best for its iconic cupcake vending machines, Sprinkles Cupcakes, has abruptly closed all stores nationwide.
Sprinkles Cupcakes founder, Candace Nelson took to social media to announce the news on Jan. 1, sharing "this isn't how [she] thought the story would go" for the business she built from her kitchen and into a national chain.
She added that despite selling the company more than a decade ago, she still has "such a connection" to the brand she built and "thought Sprinkles would keep growing and be around forever."
Nelson sold the company to private equity firm KarpRielly in 2012 after expanding to 10 locations nationwide.
In a written statement to Nexstar , the company confirmed it would shutter all company-owned stores.
"After thoughtful consideration, we've made the very difficult decision to transition away from operating company-owned Sprinkles bakeries," a spokesperson told the outlet.
It is unclear if the closures include the brand's signature cupcake ATMs.
The company's website is largely empty, featuring a banner reading "WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK!" and listing no operating stores.
"As many of you know, I started Sprinkles in 2005 with a KitchenAid mixer and a big idea. Over the years, we expanded across the country and launched the Cupcake ATM," Nelson wrote on Instagram.
She said that while she has "no ownership or operational involvement in the company," seeing "this chapter coming to an end" is surreal.
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