Crumbl CEO champions Sunday closures and family game nights for balance
Crumbl chief executive Jason McGowan says the cookie chain stays closed on Sundays to reset and spends evenings playing games with his seven children.
Since its 2017 launch in northern Utah, Crumbl has expanded to nearly 1,100 stores and $1 billion in annual sales under co-founder Jason McGowan, now its CEO. He tells reporters that the chain deliberately remains shut on Sundays to give employees and leaders a chance to recharge, a decision rooted in his Mormon background but focused on work-life balance. At home, McGowan, father of seven, disconnects from email to attend soccer matches and board-game sessions, insisting on full attention in both family and business settings.
He compares Crumbl’s policy to similar Sunday closures at Chick-fil-A and Hobby Lobby, noting a growing cultural move toward reduced workweeks and greater flexibility. Reflecting on his own rise from an eighth-grade dropout to tech entrepreneur and cookie mogul, McGowan urges continual learning and a human-focused approach amid AI-driven changes. He believes that serving customers and fostering personal connections will remain vital regardless of technological advances.
Why it matters
The story shows how a fast-growing company uses a weekly shutdown and family focus to model work-life balance in a shifting employment landscape.
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