The Crazy Mason Milkshake Bar Old Ellicott City is closing its doors at the end of August due to decreasing sales. It will be replaced by “The Corner,” which will be a community-oriented music and arts venue.
Robert Studer, who opened the Ellicott City franchise with his wife, Erin, in May 2022, declined to comment to Baltimore Fishbowl when asked about the store closing. He did say business has “decreased since opening.” Don Reuwer, however, who co-owns the building Crazy Mason leases, confirmed that Crazy Mason is leaving Aug. 30.
Crazy Mason was known for over-the-top milkshakes and corresponding price, and customers were able to rinse the glass mason jars to keep and take with them.
It will be replaced by a new nonprofit for the arts operated by Jeni Porter, who owns Little Market Café, where there is an outdoor space with live music if weather permits.
“Long story short, we’ve leased it to a nonprofit that’s going to be operating a venue all for the arts,” Reuwer told Baltimore Fishbowl. “So, they’re going to be having music and plays and comedy.”
Porter has had her eye on that building space for years and told Baltimore Fishbowl that she was nearly ready to open its doors as a music venue in 2018 when the floods hit. Investors fled, the floors of the theater were trashed, and there were too many issues to move forward. She revisited the notion again in 2020 but decided it was not the right time. Reuwer, who is a friend of hers, was aware of what she had been wanting to do with the space. Porter said as soon as he learned from the Crazy Mason owners the store would close, he contacted her to see if she wanted to pick up her dream project.
“So, we did start a nonprofit,” Porter said. “It’s called Ripple Effect Collective, and the idea behind the Ripple Effect is that when you’re coming to the venue for whatever event that we’re hosting – whether it be a concert, comedy, we’re going to have movies, whatever that is – we hope that you leave with some sort of inspiration that will create a ripple effect in your life.”
The collective’s mission is to “transform the power of music, art, food, creativity, and people gathering into something that builds stronger community.”
Porter came up with the name “The Corner” after doing extensive research about the history of what the building had been in the past, including what it had been named. At one point in time, it was a theatrical space called “The Little Theater on the Corner.” She liked “The Corner,” and that the end of “The” and beginning of “Corner” are the letters “E” and “C” for “Ellicott City.”
She envisions not just a music and arts venue, but a gathering place she compares to a living room.
“One of the things we came up with is we are Old Ellicott City’s living room,” Porter said. “We want people to put the phones down, quit doing gaming on the computer, come out, gather, and, you know, have a good time together.”
There is work to be done to transform the space into the venue Porter wants, including expanding the stage and installing a lighting and sound system. She hopes to be able to introduce “The Corner” and “The Ripple Effect” nonprofit to the community at Main Street Music Fest on Saturday, Sept. 19.
This is amazing! There is an enormous lack of live music in Howard County. I hope there are a lot of bands booked! And as for movies – I could see a Rocky Horror with the live shadow cast being an awesome fall edition!
Betty May ran the Little Theater on the Corner and was a family friend. She worked with kids of all stripes and of all ages, becoming “therater kids” before they entered high school. My mom worked with her for a time to support its growth. Betty had a vision that would align with “The Ripple Effect.” She is no doubt smiling down on this project, sending you encouragement and support.
How about a Comedy Club? Nothing like that around, as far as I know!!