Heartbreak as Sprinkles Cupcakes Shuts Down All Stores Nationwide
Employees at Sprinkles Cupcakes were devastated when they learned that the beloved bakery was closing all of its stores across the country. The final shift was chaotic and emotional as orders poured in, with one staffer describing it as a “very sad” situation.
The iconic cupcake company, which originated in California, announced on Wednesday that it was shutting down after nearly two decades in business.
Kimberly Salgado, who had been working at the bakery for three years, received just 24 hours’ notice that her last shift at the Irvine location was approaching.
“It was a hectic and somber atmosphere. It feels like it’s all coming to an end today,” Salgado shared after closing up shop on the final day.
Following the news, the store saw a surge in orders as customers rushed to grab one last cupcake. “We had 20 pre-orders today. After the announcement, we received 85 more pre-orders,” Salgado revealed.
As staff tried to cope with the sudden influx of orders, Salgado expressed her shock and disappointment at being kept in the dark about the closure. “It felt like a betrayal. Nobody had any inkling about this. We had a great holiday season, everything seemed normal,” she said.
Salgado, who helped launch the Irvine location, described the emotional scene as employees bid farewell to the bakery just before the New Year. “Many of us lost our livelihoods, and we are no longer colleagues. It’s heartbreaking,” she shared.
Founder Candace Nelson opened the first Sprinkles shop in Beverly Hills in 2005, which led to a cupcake craze and the introduction of the cupcake ATM in 2012.
Nelson, who sold the company in 2014, expressed her disbelief at the sudden closures in a social media post, stating that she had envisioned Sprinkles to be her lasting legacy.
The company cited “financial conditions due to unforeseen business circumstances” as the reason for the abrupt closure, assuring that the wind-down process would be handled orderly to fulfill remaining obligations.
