Fractured Prune Closes; Coldstone Creamery Opens

It's the circle of sweets.  The Fractured Prune in Ellicott City has closed, according to a comment by CurranStat on a prior post.  Apparently, the windows are papered up and already advertising a new tenant. That follows the Columbia outlet, which closed last year.

But comments on the same post say that Coldstone Creamery has opened in the new development on Rte 108 between Snowden River Parkway and Rte 100. That development has a Starbucks and something advertising "coal fired" -- maybe pizza?

Answers To Google Searches

One of the weird perks of running a blog is using Google Analytics to watch the searches that lead people to HowChow. At times, searches suggest a rumor or news that people are trying to confirm -- like when repeated days of "Looneys Maple Lawn" identified the bar that would replace Trapeze.

This is a few answers to questions that people seem to have:

• Is Desi Bazaar in Columbia still open? Yes. I called today, and they're open and selling Indian and Pakistani foods.
• Did La Palapa open a branch in Burtonsville? Almost. The Howard County chain opened La Palapa Three in Silver Spring near the intersection of Rte 29 and Briggs Chaney Road.
• Did the Fractured Prune in Ellicott City close? I don't know, but it appears that it might have. (I'm in Florida so I can't confirm.) The location isn't listed on the corporate Web site, and the phone number that I had for the store (410-203-2992) has been disconnected. This follows the closing of the Columbia store, which closed in September although it was still full of equipment and supplies a few weeks ago.
• Is someone opening a "coal fired pizza" off Rte 108 in Ellicott City? I don't know, but I'd love information if you know anything.

And one question of my own -- Why are you searching "Trapeze Closes" every day? Someone started searching this term about three weeks ago, and now there are eight or nine visits a day based on that search. What do you want to know?

Fractured Prune in Columbia appears closed

The Columbia location of the Fractured Prune donut shop appears to be closed.

Inside, the store looks just like it did when HowChow posted on August 29, 2008, but there was a sign on September 15, 2008 that says "Due to unforseen circumstances we have had to close this location at this time. Hopefully, we will see you back soon." The sign says that the Ellicott City shop is open and lists a phone number for questions.

The Columbia store looks fully stocked -- as if people just locked up one night and didn't come back in the morning.

Fractured Prune in Columbia and Ellicott City

How many toppings do you need to try before you say, "You know what would improve this donut? Sausage!"

The Fractured Prune is a donut shop like no other. The local branches of an Ocean City-based chain, the Prunes in Columbia and Ellicott City make their name by serving piping hot donuts and topping them sweet glazes and toppings. Pick a glaze -- honey, chocolate, peanut butter, etc. Then use the glaze to capture something crunchy like sprinkles, mini chocolate chips, Oreo cookies. (See update that the Columbia and Ellicott City stores appear to have closed.)

This is a kid's dream, and the Prune tops the sweet options with the Hole-in-One -- a hot donut of your choice, topped with a scoop of ice cream.

But the true inspiration comes for breakfast. The Fractured Prune has bagels and normal bread to fill with eggs and meat, but why slice a mere bagel when you have hot donuts on hand? Slice that donut long-ways, then fill with sausage. It's an inspired idea -- once or twice. The plain donut is lightly sweet, although as oily as a treat from a carnival midway. The sausage is good, although not Boarman's home-made variety. Together, they're like something from the state fair stands that sell deep-fried Snickers bar. Great fun. Bad for the arteries. But it's not like you're cooking these at home every weekend.

(Update: Check the comments. On September 15, 2008, the Columbia store was closed and had a sign that says "Due to unforseen circumstances we have had to close this location at this time. Hopefully, we will see you back soon." It lists a phone number for questions. The store looks fully stocked -- as if people just locked up one night and didn't come back in the morning.)

(Update: On April 3, 2009, there were reports that the Ellicott City store had closed as well.)

Click here for all the posts about sweets or here for all the posts about breakfasts. If you want a more adult breakfast, consider Eggspectation in Ellicott City for a full menu or Bonaparte Bread in Savage on the weekends.

Fractured Prune donut shop
6470 Freetown Road #205
Columbia, MD 21044
410-531-6916
http://www.fracturedprune.com/menu_columbia.php

NEAR: This is in the Hickory Ridge village center just off Cedar Lane. This is north of Rte 32 and south of Broken Land Parkway just west of Rte 29.



Fractured Prune donut shop
9095 Frederick Road
Ellicott City, MD 21042
410-203-2992

NEAR: This is at the intersection of Frederick Road and St. Johns Lane in Ellicott City. St. Johns intersects with Rte 40 just west of Rte 29.