At a Glance
- Sprinkles Cupcakes, famous for cupcake ATMs, has permanently closed all stores
- Founder Candace Nelson announced the shutdown in a Dec. 31 Instagram video, calling it “surreal”
- No reason given for the closure; employees report they were let go without notice
- Why it matters: A 20-year LA-born bakery chain that sparked the gourmet-cupcake craze is gone overnight, leaving fans and workers stunned
The pink-boxed bakery that helped turn cupcakes into a cultural phenomenon has quietly gone dark. After two decades, Sprinkles Cupcakes-the Beverly Hills-born chain famed for its 24-hour cupcake ATMs-has shuttered every location nationwide.
The Announcement
Candace Nelson, who launched the company in 2005 and sold it to private equity in 2012, broke the news in a short Instagram clip posted on New Year’s Eve.
> “It’s surreal to see this chapter come to a close,” Nelson said. “Even though I sold the company over a decade ago, I still have such a personal connection to it, and this isn’t how I thought the story would go.”
The video offered no explanation for the closure and directed no questions to current ownership.
Final Rush at the First Store
At the original Beverly Hills shop on North Canon Drive, a steady line of customers snaked out the door once word spread.
- Regulars bought red-velvet cupcakes for one last toast
- One couple mourned the loss of birthday treats for their dogs, a decade-long tradition
- Staff handed out final boxes without comment on what prompted the shutdown
Workers Left in the Dark
While patrons grieved, former employees told News Of Los Angeles they received zero advance notice.
> “We showed up to locked doors and a termination email,” one worker said.
The company has not responded to requests for comment on severance or the sudden halt in operations.
Key Takeaways
- Founded 2005, Sprinkles became a national symbol of the gourmet-cupcake boom
- Cupcake ATMs-debuted in 2012-kept the brand in headlines and late-night cravings
- All locations are now closed; no timeline or reason has been provided
- Founder Candace Nelson expressed heartbreak but no operational control since 2012
For loyal fans, the only thing left is the memory of cream-cheese frosting and the swirl of a signature sprinkle.
