The Hostess store on Market Street has little left to offer patrons. (photo by Bryan Bloodworth/WJBC)

By Zach Dietmeier

BLOOMINGTON - Twinkies are flying off the shelves around Bloomington-Normal.

With the shutdown of Hostess, grocery stores are watching the golden, cream-filled cakes disappear from their stores. The bakery at the Schnucks in Bloomington says all that remains in stock are a couple boxes of chocolate Twinkies.

"People are coming in and buying, not really crazy, but most of it is gone," said Shelly in the bakery. "We are expecting a shipment tomorrow but we don't know what will be on it."

Meijer in Normal says the Twinkies and other Hostess products can still be purchased but couldn't say how much or what was available.

The Hostess Store on Market Street in Bloomington is emptying out its stock, and Kroger spokesman John Elliot is bracing for a contingency plan.

"We've been tracking it and have been in conversation with the vendor," said Elliot. "We knew shipments would stop, and we had a plan in place. As we run out, we are filling that shelf space with the equivalent Kroger brand product.

Most stores in Normal and Bloomington say only chocolate-filled Twinkies remain. Shipments have already ceased for most locations other than Schnucks.

Three Hostess factories in Illinois, including one manufacturer in Peoria, are completely shut down. 18,500 Hostess workers nationwide are now out of work due to the closure.

In the meantime, if you can't get your hands on the last shipment of Twinkies, here is a way you can make your own:

Zach Dietmeier can be reached at zach.dietmeier@cumulus.com.