Sprinkles Cupcakes opened its newest location at The Grove on Black Friday. (Kelli Shiroma / Neon Tommy)

Those who braved the congested crowds stood in a long line to order cupcakes at the chain’s newest store and got to meet Candace Nelson, the Sprinkles founder and judge on Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars." Nelson was at the grand opening from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. to meet and take photos with customers. 

Sprinkles Cupcakes hyped up the anticipation for its grand opening by baking five golden tickets into its cupcakes. In characteristic Wonka fashion, five lucky winners with the ticket-filled cupcakes would receive a variety of prizes, including a year of Sprinkles Cupcakes and a $500- or $1000-shopping spree at The Grove. 

Upon reaching Sprinkles Cupcakes: The Grove around 11:40 a.m., a steady line of eager customers still existed at the new cupcake location, but workers provided great customer service to ensure that the ordering process ran smoothly. One employee handed waiting customers Sprinkles cards that displayed the featured cupcake flavors of the day, while another employee stood nearby to help take photos of customers who wanted to pose with Nelson. 

The cupcakery’s new front was a bit different from its stores in Beverly Hills and Newport Beach because it was more of an order window than a walk-in store. Besides this fact, Sprinkles Cupcakes: The Grove possessed many of the same qualities as the other Sprinkles stores, from the large display case of cupcakes to the bulletin board of all the cupcake flavors, descriptions and prices. Sprinkles employees also demonstrated the same high energy and friendliness characteristic of the other Sprinkles locations.

For its opening day, Sprinkles featured its usual Friday flavors, including Cinnamon Sugar, Black and White and Red Velvet. The cupcakes themselves portrayed the same moist textures and flavors characteristic of products from the other Sprinkles locations, but the excitement of the day and the chain’s novelty only seemed to add to the cupcakes’ sweetness. 

Keep up to date with all that’s happening with Sprinkles Cupcakes: The Grove by visiting its Facebook page. Sprinkles Cupcakes: The Grove is located at 189 The Grove Drive, Los Angeles, 90036. 

Reach Kelli Shiroma here.