Crazy Mason Milkshake Bar in Old Ellicott City is closing

The Crazy Mason Milkshake Bar, an over-the-top dessert destination, is closing its doors on Ellicott City’s Main Street at the end of the month.

Franchise owners Robert and Erin Studer, who opened the shop in summer 2022, informed their landlord that it would close by Sept. 1, according to Joseph Rutter, who co-owns the building.

The Studers, who independently own the Old Ellicott City franchise location, did not respond to requests for comment.

The first Crazy Mason Milkshake Bar was opened in 2020 by husband and wife Bo and Sherri Steele in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The Steeles have helped franchisees open additional locations in North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina and Florida. No one from Crazy Mason responded to a request for comment Monday.

Crazy Mason offers eccentric milkshakes, called, well, Crazy Masons. Flavors include “Whatever Floats Your Boat,” which comes with a base of either root beer or Coca-Cola, five scoops of vanilla ice cream, chocolate sprinkles, whipped cream and a cherry, and “You Gotta Be Puddin’ Me,” which features banana pudding ice cream, Nilla Wafers, vanilla pound cake, banana pudding and fresh bananas.

Each location has a signature Mason jar milkshake, and Ellicott City’s is of course a nod to Maryland’s love for crabs. The “O’ Crab!” comes in a Maryland-designed jar with sea salt caramel, chocolate ice cream and local treats, including a Berger cookie, E.C. Pops’ chocolate-coated popcorn, and Old Bay-dusted chocolate crabs.

When the Ellicott City spot was announced, the Steeles said they partnered with a local couple who fell in love with the Crazy Mason concept.

“The former theater on Main St. was on their radar and we couldn’t be happier for them and to see it transform the street front and the space inside to what we know and love about our concept; fun, tasty, crazy, memory making moments for our guests,” the Steeles said in a 2022 statement.

Don Reuwer, who co-owns the building with Rutter, told Baltimore Fishbowl that they’ve leased the theater to a nonprofit that will operate it as a venue with music, plays and comedy acts.

However, in an email on Monday, Rutter walked back his partner’s announcement and said there is no new active lease for the building.

“Several [potential tenants] have expressed interest and we are striving to refill the space ASAP,” Rutter said.

According to Fishbowl, Reuwer contacted Jeni Porter, owner of Little Market Café in Old Ellicott City, and asked if she wanted to turn the space into “her dream project,” a music and arts venue that feels like you’re in someone’s living room.

Porter did not respond to a request for comment.

In an email on Monday, Reuwer said: “We have interest but no signed agreement. We love Jeni’s concept. But need to be certain.”