RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CA — A nationwide cookie chain is starting to crumble, with stores across South Orange County slatted for closure.
The fast-growing bakery chain Crumbl Cookies has hit a rough patch that is actively reducing the number of places California residents can get the signature oversized cookies with rotating flavors.
The company's fortunes have changed dramatically since it became a social media sensation, drawing millions of followers and customers eager to try its latest limited-time flavors.
In Rancho Santa Margarita, residents will bid farewell to the Crumbl Cookies located at 22342 El Paseo on Saturday, Oct. 24.
Crumbl has closed at least 57 stores in 2026. Customer traffic has fallen sharply and one franchise operator has filed for bankruptcy, according to industry reports. An effort to boost sales by adding dirty sodas — soft drinks mixed with flavored syrups, cream and other ingredients — has also fallen short of expectations.
The company has not published a complete state-by-state list of closures. However, closures confirmed by Fast Company include locations in 10 states, including California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. An unofficial tracker also lists stores in Alabama and New Jersey.
At least four California locations have reportedly closed in 2026, according to the unofficial store closure tracker. Those include Hanford (September), Westlake Village (August), Ladera Beach (June), and Mira Mesa in San Diego (April). The tracker also lists a Rolling Hills Estates location that closed in December 2025.
Another six California locations were among closures previously confirmed in December 2025 by Fast Company, including stores in Anaheim, Dana Point, Delano, San Luis Obispo, Soquel and Victorville.
None of that means every location is struggling. The chain operates through independently owned franchises, and performance can vary substantially from one market to another.
California has 137 Crumbl stores, the most of any state, according to a September 2026 report from ScrapeHero.
Crumbl continues to operate stores throughout California, including locations in San Diego, Carlsbad, Oceanside, Los Angeles, Riverside, Sacramento, San Francisco and San Jose, according to the company's store locator.
Patch Staffer Kristina Houck contributed to this article.
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