In 2018, OatMeals owner Sam Stephens appeared on “Shark Tank” and negotiated a $500,000 deal with Lori Greiner in exchange for a 33.3% stake, though the deal relied on Stephens securing a partnership with Starbucks and producing a frozen food line. This is what happened to OatMeals after its “Shark Tank” appearance.

Although the deal with Greiner didn’t finalize, Stephens stayed in business, keeping the NYC location of OatMeals open and also securing a partnership with Quaker Oats. The cafe ultimately closed in January 2021, falling prey to the challenges that many independent businesses face during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the cafe’s closure, OatMeals is surviving, and Sam Stephens still works with Quaker Oats as the Creative Oatmeal Officer, while working on a recipe blog and cookbook. She also sells OatMeals Signature Granola online, and the OatMeals social feeds are likewise still active, providing fans with oatmeal inspiration on a regular basis.