When I was growing up, there was a famous ice cream store that served the most delicious vanilla and lemon ice cream in the world. It’s located on the big boulevard, where nearly every other store that was there in my childhood no longer exists.
Miraculously, the ice cream shop still exists, and its ice creams still have the same quality they had 20 years ago.
Sadly, this is extremely rare.
Tough competition and customers’ ever-changing preferences, paired with current economic challenges, including inflation as well as high labor and food expenses, have torn apart so many amazing establishments across the country.
It is especially tragic when places with a decades-long history shut down — the ones that become a part of the community and a happy place to go with your friends and family.
Most communities have special places like that, until the harsh economic environment takes its toll.
Now, a popular desert dining chain that once served President Obama is closing its final location.
The Cupcakery closing its final store after 20 years
The Cupcakery, which once boasted four local spots and counted President Barack Obama among its customers, will close its final location (9690 S. Eastern Ave., Suite 100) on Feb. 1, 2026, after 20 years.
Owner Pamela Jenkins revealed the closure on Facebook:
“Well, I’d like to start off saying thank you to Las Vegas and all my friends and family for supporting me on the Cupcakery journey for 20 years,” reads the announcement. “It’s been a wild wonderful ride, the full heaven and hell experience that is small business.”
As of October 2025, The Cupcakery in Las Vegas has closed all but one location.
Previous Cupcakery locations and closures
- West Lake Mead Boulevard (Summerlin area): This location opened in 2007 and was later rebranded as Caked Las Vegas in 2019, according to Eater Vegas.
- East Flamingo Road (near UNLV): This location opened in 2015 but has since closed, writes Neon.
- Monte Carlo Hotel and Casino (now Park MGM): This Las Vegas Strip location has also closed.
In total, The Cupcakery operated four locations across the Las Vegas Valley, all of which have now closed.
The Cupcakery once had locations across Texas as well, but they have all been forced to close their doors for good.
Previous Texas Cupcakery locations
- Frisco: 6975 Lebanon Rd, Ste. 306
- Fort Worth: 132 E 4th St.
- Dallas: 2222 McKinney Ave., Ste. 230
Rising operational costs are killing small businesses like cupcake bakeries
Jenkins cited reasons for the Cupcakery closures, such as the expiration of the lease and rising expenses.
“Our lease isn’t being renewed, and TBH [to be honest], the expenses to keep quality high has killed our profits in the last few years. It’s time to do something different. I don’t think I’m alone in the struggle of small business right now. I could elaborate but it’s just exhausting,” the owner wrote.
Related: Popular Mexican fast-food chain quietly closes multiple restaurants
Jenkins further indicated that it is time for a new chapter. While she is still unsure what that will be, she hopes to move into “a more sustainable life and business model.”
Meanwhile, The Cupcakery’s latest location will continue to serve and take orders until it closes on Feb. 1.
The Cupcakery is not the only popular cupcake bakery to close down in recent years. Iconic names, such as Crumbs Bake Shop and Gigi’s Cupcakes, faced a similar unfortunate fate.
Crumbs Bake Shop, Gigi’s Cupcakes also struggled
Crumbs Bake Shop was founded in 2003 in New York City, growing to more than 70 locations nationwide. After 14 years in business, in July 2014, it closed all stores due to financial struggles and declining sales.
The store gave it another shot the same year, reopening 25 locations. However, two years later, in December 2016, it closed permanently and continues to operate online.
Legendary cupcake brand and once one of the largest cupcake franchises in the United States, Gigi’s Cupcakes, was founded in 2008 in Nashville, Tennessee, by Gina “Gigi” Butler.
It grew to over 100 locations nationwide, but in January 2019, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The same year, it was acquired by Elite Restaurant Group. Gigi’s Cupcakes was restructured under new ownership and continues to run around 50 locations.
The Cupcakery’s legacy
Like many great ventures, Jenkins’ story began with a leap of faith and a strong instinct. She left a “great job” as an executive assistant to Timothy Poster, chairman and CEO of the Golden Nugget Casino, to start her own venture with two colleagues.
This had not been her dream from a young age, but it was a great business idea at the right time. Jenkins read about a woman in San Francisco who sold homemade cupcakes out of her car, and with the growing popularity of this type of sweet treat, she had a feeling this business would be a success in the Las Vegas valley.
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In just the first year of business, The Cupcakery sold more than 275,000 cupcakes.
In 2013, Jenkins was asked to bake six cupcakes for President Barack Obama, who was visiting the town for a speech.
“It’s the ultimate, ultimate, ultimate compliment to have a president taste your cupcakes,” Jenkins said at the time, as reported by Las-Vegas Review Journal.
The bakery became a neighborhood favorite for its original design, recipes, and cupcake names, such as Trip to Graceland, Oh My Gosh Ganache, Coco Freckles, Cherrylicious, and Coco Frauline.
All of its cupcakes were made with fresh ingredients and baked on premises, and its frostings were made with 100% fresh butter and 100% fresh cream cheese.
Cupcakery customers disappointed by closure
Unsurprisingly, longtime Cupcakery customers were saddened to hear about the closure.
“I am so sad!!! You guys have the best cupcakes and we use you for all our special events,” wrote Nadia Trujillo.
Cathay Brawner Reardon said, “It’s a shame that a beautiful business like yours can’t survive in a place like Las Vegas. There is something seriously wrong with this country, but I think we all know what that is.”
Related: Fast-casual restaurant chain closes all locations in major makeover
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