Hold The Sprinkles! – Trailblazing Cupcake Company Closes Aprubtly

Sprinkles Cupcakes, a bakery chain known for its gourmet cupcakes and signature “cupcake ATMs,” is shutting down all of its locations permanently, according to its founder, leaving fans and employees alike mourning the abrupt nature of the closure.

Founder Candace Nelson, who turned to baking and put her own stamp on the Sprinkles brand in 2005 after losing her job in investment banking, sold the company to a private equity firm in 2014. Although no longer a part of the company’s direction, she confirmed its closure via Instagram.

Marketed as a “must have” quality cupcake, Sprinkles found a market with moms and celebrities who visited Nelson’s Nelson’s pioneer location in Beverly Hills, her colorful branding and catchy innovations driving the company’s success and eventual expansion with nine stores in California – including one in San Ramon – and others across the country.

Current owners had recently announced the opening of a new store in Burlingame, plans which have obviously been shelved for as-yet unknown reasons.

The current owners have not publicly commented on the closures though Nelson said closures would begin immediately, prompting some angry reaction from loyal customers and workers who complained of the abrupt notice of their termination.