Gourmet shop set to launch Cupcake ATMs in U.S. cities

Beverly Hills - A gourmet cupcake shop is launching a vending machine next week that will offer round-the-clock fresh cupcakes. The launch date is set for March 9.

Sprinkles, a cupcake chain which has 10 locations across the U.S., is getting ready to open its first 24-hour cupcake vending machine. The debut on March 9 will be at Sprinkles' Beverly Hills, Calif. location. This store is the original, and was opened in 2005. Dubbed the 'Cupcake ATM', customers will be able to purchase a fresh cupcake at any time of the day, either after hours, or simply because they may want to grab a cupcake on the run. Cupcakes can be paid for by either credit or debit cards. According to CNN Money, Nicole Schwartz, a Sprinkles spokeswoman, said there will be 10 Cupcake ATMs unveiled by this summer and additional machines through the rest of the year. CNN reported, "The company had intended to call the machines 24-hour Sprinkles, but Schwartz said the name cupcake ATM just kind of suggested itself. " The chain's plan is to unroll the new vending machines outside its established stores, which are in Beverly Hills, Newport Beach, Palo Alto and La Jolla, California, as well as New York City, Chicago, Washington D.C., Dallas, Houston, and Scottsdale, Ariz. Chicago, Washington and New York are scheduled to get the “cupcake automats” next, by summer. The New York Daily News reported three Cupcake ATMs will unveil in Manhattan in midtown, downtown and the upper West Side locations. “We’re working hard on the exact locations now,” spokeswoman Nicole Schwartz said. “They’ll be restocked constantly throughout the day, so if it’s Wednesday, you’ll only get our Wednesday flavors.” Each machine is said to be able to carry 600 cupcakes and will be freshly baked and restocked every few hours as the bakery is open almost around-the-clock, opening at 2 a.m. and closing at midnight. The cupcakes will come individually stocked in a box to insure the cupcake stays intact. It looks as if they'll be a fee for the convenience, however. Reportedly, Sprinkles' cupcakes cost $3.50 each, but CNN noted cupcakes from the machines will be priced at $4. Where did the idea stem? ABC News reported Sprinkles' founder Candace Nelson said the idea came to her during her strong pregnancy cravings. “I conceived the idea of an automatic cupcake machine after having late-night sugar cravings while pregnant with my second son. Even as Sprinkles’ founder, I couldn’t get my midnight cupcake fix! I thought ‘there has to be a way’ and so the concept of 24-Hour Sprinkles was born!" And an idea was born. Next week this idea will come to fruition in Beverly Hills. Eventually Sprinkles plans to have machines located at other remote locations in addition to its shops. Additionally, CBS reported there are plans for a new ice cream shop as well. What do you think about 24-hour cupcake machines? Will it be a hit or miss? Would you head out for a midnight craving?