Ellicott City Scoop: LaLa's Opening Soon

The sign has been teasing Main Street for more than a year now: LaLa’s Ice Cream Parlor. 

So when is it opening? 

“April 1,” owner Brendan Flannery said Thursday afternoon. “Absolutely.”

That date is for the soft opening, Flannery said. He hasn’t pinned down a date for the grand opening, but it should be some time in the middle of the month, he said. We’re going to give the whole parlor away that day ... free ice cream. It’ll be pretty cool.”

LaLa’s, at 8054 Main Street, will carry a variety of soft-serve and hand-dipped ice cream, milkshakes, sundaes and hot dots, including vegan hot dogs.

Flannery has been selling those on the street from his cart in front of Portalli’s and the Diamondback Tavern since December. He's on the street Wednesday – Sunday from 11 p.m. – 2 a.m.

He's is bringing that late-night hot dog cart model – capturing bar patrons on their way out of town – to the ice cream parlor, which will also be open 11 a.m.- 2 a.m. Wednesday to Sunday. The rest of the week, LaLa's will be open 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. 

“If you go to Fells Point or go to Annapolis … in all these different places, there’s always that one little pizza place that’s still open,” Flannery said of his decision to stay open late. “We’re trying to get Ellicott City back on the map ... Let’s make this little cool historic town a town again.”