Prunes, and their fiber-rich reputation, are usually synonymous with Aunt Esther’s Secret Weapon for Regulation. But in Ocean City—yes, the less cool O.C.—they became affiliated with a legendary fried dough chain, The Fractured Prune. Beachgoers and locals are all about their made-fresh-to-order donuts, which can be dipped in one of sixteen glazes, eight toppings and three sugars. Their mascot, a shades-clad injured prune man (think geriatric cousin of the California Raisins ilk), has announced to Dupont Circle’s P Street that his establishment is “Coming Soon.”

Although we don’t know how long soon is, from what we hear on Chowhound, it’s worth the wait. They started out at as hometown heroes with two locations in Ocean City, began franchising and before long, Food Network caught wind. Now with over fifteen locations, lines are out the door, especially in beachtowns like Rehoboth and Bethany Beach, where people can enjoy a guilt-free vacation breakfast on the sand. Crabs and donuts are even becoming a thing there.

Sadly, the closest thing Dupont has to a beach is the “P Street Beach” behind the corner gas station, bordering Rock Creek Parkway, but we still deserve to wear our flip-flops and entertain a new face in this Dunkin’ District. Just FYI, there are over thirty-nine in the city. Just FYI.

This is the second donut-related post we've had this month, and proud of it. About a ten-minute walk from the closest corporate competitor, the Fractured Prune has not announced any Free Donut Days just yet, but rumor has it first-timers are awarded a free 'nut upon arrival. As of now, the shop in-the-works sits behind a cage on a happening strip of P Street next to two nightlife-rich neighbors, The Fireplace and Soho Tea and Coffee.

And finally, lets answer where that funky name originates. The prune is already wrinkly. Now it has to be fractured? Poor, poor little fibrous fruit. He’s just never gonna be that cool kid in school.

Truth is, it’s not one of those arbitrarily "random" titles, born to sound painfully edgy. It's a tribute to Prunella Shriek, a longtime owner of land around Ocean City's 46th Street Market, where the first stand went up. A septuagenarian athlete, and a feisty one, she often competed in male-dominated ice skating races and skiing competition. Cica 1895, she was the county's ping-pong champ. Many crutches and wheelchairs later, the feeble competitor earned the nickname, "Fractured Prunella."

What Specialty Donut will you be? Ms. Prunella (with mixed berry glaze and cinnamon sugar)? Or a purist Plain Jane (just a topping-less naked guy)?