'The Worst Nightmare': One Cold Stone Creamery Location Lost All of Its Inventory — and the Meltdown Went Viral Employees had to pour the ruined product into garbage cans.

By Amanda Breen Edited by Jessica Thomas

Vince Talotta | Getty Images

It's been a rough month for U.S. ice cream parlor chain Cold Stone Creamery.

TikTok videos uploaded by an anonymous Cold Stone employee on Monday reveal a fire suppression sprinkler malfunction that flooded a store and destroyed all of its inventory, Fox Business reported.

Related: Cold Stone Creamery Employee Loses 3 Fingers in Accident

The videos, which garnered more than 220,000 views and appear to have been removed from the platform, were posted via a "Cold Stone Treats" account, which documents what it's like to work at the parlor. According to Fox, the clip showed "tipped-over shelves, wet floors and many vats of melted ice cream" and employees dumping the ruined product into garbage cans.

"If this wasn't enough, I fell and hurt my wrist," the employee behind Cold Stone Treats said in the second video, per the outlet. "I was making these videos and taking these pictures. I couldn't believe [it] — I wanted somebody to come and pinch me because this was the worst nightmare. And this is where I fell and hurt myself."

The incident followed another disaster earlier this month at a Corvallis, Oregon Cold Stone Creamery. There, several employees quit after a co-worker lost three fingers cleaning an ice cream machine; they claim they never received adequate safety training and that management demonstrated a lack of compassion.

Related: Is Your Local McDonald's Ice Cream Machine Broken? Check the McBroken App.

Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, Cold Stone Creamery is owned by parent company Kahala Brands, an international franchisor of quick-service food restaurants that also operates brands including Blimpie, The Counter, Thai Express, Sweet Frog and more, per Reuters.
Amanda Breen

Entrepreneur Staff

Senior Features Writer

Amanda Breen is a senior features writer at Entrepreneur.com. She is a graduate of Barnard College and received an MFA in writing at Columbia University, where she was a news fellow for the School of the Arts.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

She and Her Sister Started a Side Hustle to Help People Elevate Their Homes — Now Their Brand Pulls In Hundreds of Millions: 'Get to Work'

When Lee Mayer moved from New York City to Denver, Colorado, she wanted to find an affordable, fun way to decorate her home.

Business News

'One of the Most Consequential Bills Ever': Here's How the 'Big, Beautiful Bill' Will Affect Small Businesses

President Donald Trump is expected to sign the multi-trillion-dollar bill on July 4.

Growing a Business

Why Storytelling (Not Selling) Is Your Most Powerful Branding Tool

A thought leader is a sum of their stories. Learn why sharing your unique thoughts, feelings and perspectives can help you stand apart from other experts in your field.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Leadership

Lead From the Top: 5 Core Responsibilities of a CEO

Knowing exactly what the chief executive's role entails is critical for steering a company to success.

Business News

Starbucks Is Offering Executives $6 Million Performance-Based Stock Grants

Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol is offering leadership stock grants if they can "meaningfully" reduce operating expenses.