After nearly three decades as one of the staples of Foggy Bottom Cone E. Island announced it will be closing its doors on March 31st. As surprised students cope with the announcement, questions still linger over the ice cream shop’s decision to leave the GW neighborhood.
CCAS sophomore Greg Dumas said he discovered Cone E. Island early in his freshman year and has frequented the shop since. “I thought it was a really popular place, and it didn’t seem likely to close.”
Fellow CCAS sophomore Thomas Davies expressed a more nuanced view. “I think many alumni will be unhappy to see (Cone E. Island) go, but people are starting to move past the concept of a traditional ice cream parlor.”
Manager Noel Esmilla, who also owns a partial stake in the store, told WRGW that University officials did not clearly specify why a lease contract was not renewed, leading to questions about how GW engages in its real estate policy.
However, a phone interview between WRGW and majority owner Susan Rubin seemed to clear up the ambiguity.
“The bottom line is that we were not able to keep up with rent payments,” Rubin said.
Rubin said she harbored no ill will towards the university, and that while she wishes a new contract could be negotiated, she understands “where the university is coming from.”
University spokesman Dave Andrews, speaking on behalf of both John Ralls, special advisor for communications and outreach at GW’s Division of Operations, and Director of Investment Real Estate Leslie Korn, said that real estate decisions “are carefully considered and every effort is made to come to the best possible overall conclusion taking many factors into account.”
Rubin says she has no plans to reopen the store at a different location. But Esmilla is keeping the possibility of a new store open.
Students who wish to see Cone E. Island live another day can sign a petition urging GW real estate administrators to negotiate a deal that finds the store a new home. The petition can be found on the store’s website: http://www.coneeislandwdc.com/.