SAN RAMON, CALIFORNIA – There are lots of places in the Bay Area to get fancy cupcakes. But for the strangeness of its innovations (and, it must be said, the tastiness of its cupcakes), one spot always stood out.
This cupcake place embraced the Bay Area’s ethos of technical innovation, rolling out Rube-Goldberg-esque creations like an automated cupcake ATM. You swiped a credit card, entered your selections, and a cupcake popped out.
Alas, that wasn’t apparently enough to keep the chain in business. Just as people were winding down for their New Year’s Eve celebrations and watching the (9pm) ball drop, this cupcake chain announced its demise.
Sprinkles Cupcakes is closing all its Bay Area locations, effective immediately. That includes a popular spot at City Center Bishop Ranch in the 925.
Founder Candace Nelson said she learned only days ago that the company she started in 2005 (and sold to private equity in 2012) would be “closing its bakery doors” on December 31, 2025.
In addition to the San Ramon location, a Sprinkles location in Palo Alto and a planned Burlingame location are expected to shutter.
The confusing part: multiple reports noted that as of the announcement, Sprinkles’ own channels hadn’t clearly posted a companywide closure statement, leaving many customers to learn about it through Nelson’s Instagram video and news coverage.
The shutdown also triggered a wave of comments from people claiming to be employees, criticizing the short notice. One NBC report quoted a store manager saying managers learned about closures on Monday afternoon and frontline staff were told Tuesday night — one day before the final day.
The reason for the closure isn’t yet clear. By all accounts, Sprinkles was popular and seemed to be doing well nationwide. The store was apparently still taking New Year’s orders right up to the closure.
Sprinkles is owned by the private equity firm KarpReilly Capital Partners. A spokesperson for the brand reportedly told media that they had decided to stop operating bakeries. The original founder sounded as surprised as anyone else.
This story, then, might be more about a corporate decision than a struggling chain. If you enjoyed the idea of a cupcake ATM–or you had a Sprinkles order for the New Year–you’ll almost certainly miss Sprinkles.
Personally, I was partial to their sprinkled-studded Birthday Cake cupcake (seen above) and will miss grabbing one in San Ramon.
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RIP Sprinkles, another private equity casualty.