The saga of Sprinkles may not be over, thanks to some civic-minded readers of The Gazette.

The little ice cream shop, housed in a metal shed in an industrial area in central Colorado Springs, is in danger of being closed because it violates city zoning rules.

The owner of Sprinkles, Rick Johnson of Johnson Heating and Plumbing, opened the ice cream shop on his business property in mid-June to give teens jobs.  It’s located at the corner of Tia Juana and East St. Vrain streets.

The city said Johnson does not have a conditional use permit that would allow him to operate a retail business in an industrial zone.

The city has twice given Johnson an extension to seek city approval; a second extension ended Wednesday.Johnson said the shop has never made money, and he cannot afford what he thinks could be $4,000 in architectural fees to try to get the permit.

After the Sprinkles story appeared in The Gazette, Johnson received calls from two readers who said they would be willing to foot the bill. Also, a local businessman offered to relocate the metal building to the parking lot of his closed restaurant , for no charge.

Johnson said Wednesday he has not been able to meet yet with zoning officials to seek another extension.The shop, offering donuts and coffee in the morning and hot dogs and ice cream the remainder of the day, employed 12 kids this summer and now employs four recent high school grads.

Air Force defensive lineman Ben Garland (93) sacks Nicholls State quarterback Jacob Witt (10) in the second quarter Saturday at Falcon Stadium. Photo by KEVIN KRECK, THE GAZETTE