Foo’s future in Brookside in doubt

Foo’s Fabulous Frozen Custard has been a Brookside mainstay for 26 years.

But the neighborhood favorite might not be around to see its 27th anniversary.

Jeff Stottle, owner of the Leawood location and a partner in the Foo’s franchise company, said the Brookside shop, at 6235 Brookside Plaza, is in negotiations with its new landlords and would like to stay.

Foo’s posted this notice on its Facebook page on Sunday:

“Because we want our beloved customers, friends, and partners in our community to be in the know, Foo's in Brookside would like to share the following: We are presently in lease negotiations with our Brookside landlord. Please know that we are doing everything we can to stay right were we are in Brookside and have been for the past 26 years. We will keep you posted. Thanks for your outpouring of support.”

A new “Keep Foo’s in Brookside” Facebook page says the shop may be replaced by a Smallcakes a Cupcakery. As of Monday morning it had more than 3,000 likes.

But Jeff Martin, founder of Smallcakes, said he has not looked at the location and doesn’t know of any Smallcakes franchisees that have.

“There is no lease. I’ve been getting hate emails all weekend. But I don’t know how we got brought up in it,” Martin said.

First Washington Realty Inc., of Bethesda, Md., and the California Public Employees' Retirement System recently completed their purchase of 130,000 square feet in the Brookside shopping district from BKS Real Estate LLC, including the Foo’s space.

George Gilchrist, manager of the property, referred calls to First Washington.

Officials with First Washington couldn’t be reached for comment Monday morning.

To reach Joyce Smith, call 816-234-4692 or send email to jsmith@kcstar.com. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter at JoyceKC

This story was originally published August 18, 2014 at 11:50 AM with the headline "Foo’s future in Brookside in doubt."