A Crumbl Cookies location in Charlotte, North Carolina shut down and fired two employees after a customer filmed one worker styling another employee’s hair near the kitchen during business hours, raising serious health code concerns that prompted immediate corporate intervention.

Customer Films Unsanitary Behavior

An unidentified customer arrived at the Midtown Charlotte Crumbl Cookies location around 9:15 p.m. on Friday expecting to purchase cookies. Instead, he witnessed two female employees engaged in what he described as “hair play” near the kitchen area. The store remained open for business until its scheduled 11 p.m. closing time. The customer recorded video of the incident before entering the store to confront the workers about the unsanitary practice.

When the customer confronted the employees inside, the worker styling hair responded dismissively, asking “do you see me cooking?” Despite his concerns about food safety, the customer still attempted to order soft chocolate chip cookies but discovered none were available. The video quickly gained viral attention on social media, prompting multiple witnesses to file complaints with Crumbl’s corporate headquarters.

Corporate Response and Employee Termination

Crumbl Cookies corporate offices issued a statement calling the employees’ conduct “unacceptable” and “inappropriate.” The company took immediate action by closing the location, discarding all dough present at the store, and bringing in professional cleaning crews. Both employees involved in the incident no longer work for the company, according to local station WCNC. The dessert chain, known for its weekly rotating specialty cookie flavors, emphasized its commitment to strict health and safety policies.

Store Reopens After Deep Cleaning

The Midtown Charlotte location remained closed Monday for thorough cleaning and sanitization before reopening Tuesday. A second witness who had also observed the hair-styling incident filed a separate complaint to corporate offices, underscoring the visibility of the violation. The company’s swift response reflects growing consumer expectations for food safety transparency, particularly as social media enables rapid spread of health code violations. The incident highlights ongoing challenges restaurants face maintaining professional standards and food safety protocols across multiple locations.