Landlords Stand By Decision to End Max's Ice Cream Lease

Barbara and Gail Bassin, the landlords at the center of controversy that has pit customers of one local small businesses against another small business, stand by their decision to end Max's Best Ice Cream's lease at 2416 Wisconsin Ave. NW and offer that space to neighboring Rocklands Barbeque at 2618 Wisconsin Ave. NW.

"As landlords and owners we feel comfortable with our decision to consolidate the two spaces and offer a friendly locally owned restaurant an environment where families and friends can come together in Glover Park twelve months of the year," they wrote in a prepared statement.

Until now the Bassins have been mum about their decision, which has left Rocklands to take much of the heat from community members upset over the lease termination decision.

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Recently, John Snedden, owner of Rocklands Barbeque, said his employees have been harassed in person and over the phone and that someone threw either oatmeal or eggs at the business. Snedden has said he was under the impression that Max's Ice Cream owner, Max Keshani, was retiring.

"We felt compelled to issue a public statement in light of recent media and community attention. Some of this attention has unfairly resulted in casting Rockland’s Barbeque or our property management company in an unfavorable light, which we, as landlords, feel is grossly unfair, misinformed and unjustified," the landlords wrote in their statement.

In October 2011 and July 2012 Keshani inquired about extending his lease, according to the statement. The landlords say they told him in November that his lease would not be renewed.

Keshani previously told Patch that he thought he was still negotiating over a lease.

"We asked them for a new lease," he told Patch.

He told Patch the letter he received about his lease ending was a surprise and he felt the decision was made "for no reason."

The Bassins said it was entirely their decision not to renew Max's lease and Rocklands' interest in the property was not a deciding factor.

When the Bassins decided not to renew the ice cream store's lease, which ends June 30 and included no right-to-renew clause,  there was "no formal arrangement with Rockland’s at the time".

"We are saddened to hear that members of the community have taken upon themselves to be critical of and abusive to John over what is our decision to allow him to expand his business," they wrote.

Community members have rallied around Max's Ice Cream in more positive ways as well, from Stoddert Elementary students rallying outside the shop after school to social media campaigns and petitions to keep the local favorite in business.

Among the suggestions in some of these efforts is that Keshani at least be allowed to finish out this season with a short extension of his lease.

While the landlords did not necessarily say they would allow such an agreement, the did mention the prospect in their statement.

"We have not received a definitive proposal from Max or his attorney regarding a short term extension," the wrote.

Patch reached out to Keshani for comment, but he was busy making ice cream at the moment and unable to do an interview. We will update this story as more information becomes available.

Read more:

• Max's Ice Cream Lease Being Terminated
• Rocklands Confirms Expansion into Max's Ice Cream Space
• Stoddert Peacebuilders Show Solidarity With Max's Best