A popular frozen custard shop in Kansas City, Mo., could close after an outside real estate company didn't renew its lease for its Brookside location.
Foo's Fabulous Frozen Custard has been in the same storefront on Brookside Plaza for more than two decades. But owner Betty Bremser learned last week that First Washington Realty Inc. in Bethesda, Md., the company that owns much of the neighborhood shopping district, didn't plan to renew her lease at the end of this month.
"I hope to be here for 26 more years," says Bremser, arriving at her shop Monday afternoon. "We'll see. I am in lease negotiations with the new property owners."
There's been an outpouring of support for Foo's on social media. A Facebook group started Saturday to "Keep Foo's in Brookside" already has more than 3,000 likes – even more than the page Bremser runs to promote the business.
"I don't know what all that means, how many 'likes' I have and all that stuff, I'm barely on Facebook myself," she says. "It's encouraging. It gives you a little more oomph that you're doing what you should be doing."
There's a second franchise location of Foo's in Leawood, Kan., that sells coffee, chocolates and sandwiches in addition to frozen custard. But Bremser is adamant she doesn't want to leave Brookside.
"That's what makes it special," Bremser says. "I live around the corner. It's a great neighborhood."
A call to property owner First Washington Realty Inc. was not returned Monday afternoon.
