MALDEN, Mass. (WHDH) -- Say goodbye to Twinkies. The Hostess brand is closing up shop and longtime customers are stocking up on their favorite treats.

The company is going out of business, leaving 18,000 people jobless. Employees and customers at the Hostess Bakery outlet in Malden exchanged emotional goodbyes.

“It’s sad this time of year with the economy,” said a customer.

“Twinkies, Yodels, yeah, I’m going to miss it,” said another customer.

With Hostess Twinkies already sold out, long time customers are buying up the last Snowballs, Ho Hos, Suzy Q’s and loaves of Wonder Bread.

“It’s over. This is it,” said Hostess Brands CEO, Gregory Rayburn.

Rayburn said the company was forced into bankruptcy after failing to get wage and benefit cuts from union workers who have been on strike for the past week.

“I think the leadership of that union made a decision they’re willing to sacrifice these jobs because they don’t want to have these kinds of concessions from other companies,” said Rayburn.

But Hostess employees like Frank Shea who has been with Hostess for 12 years said management deserves as much blame as the unions.

“The company says they’re not making money, but the CEOs are making millions of dollars and I know the last time I looked at my paycheck, it’s not a million dollars,” said Shea.

Hostess said it will take a year to completely wind down nationwide.