This post was written by Hatchet staff writer Benjamin Kershner.

A former campus staple hit a roadblock this month in its effort to return to Foggy Bottom.

Cone E. Island’s future at GW is uncertain after the University rejected the ice cream parlor’s bid to move into a space in the new Science and Engineering Hall earlier this month.

Owner Jun Esmila said GW denied his proposal to move the business to the new academic building, nearly four months after he first asked to rent the space.

A petition to bring the ice cream shop back to campus has drawn more than 2,000 signatures, but the University told the Cone E. Island owner that it had already selected a finalist for the space and was no longer considering proposals, according to an email Esmila provided to The Hatchet.

“GW is home to me, but I can only wait around so long,” Esmila said.

Esmila had set his hopes on the new building and said he was “devastated” by the news. He is now looking to reclaim his old space in the the Shops at 2000 Penn.

Cone E. Island closed after falling behind on payments while growing competition in the area lured away customers. The shop had served up favorites like oreo fantasy bar brownies, chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream and Skinny Minnie frozen yogurt for 27 years.

The space remains vacant more than three months after the ice cream shop moved out, and Esmila plans to meet with the building’s management in the next week to discuss a possible Cone E. Island return.

Senior Associate Vice President of Operations Alicia Knight said more than 20 restaurants also submitted proposals to fill the spot, though GW has not confirmed which business made the final cut.

University spokesman Kurtis Hiatt declined to comment on possible tenants, citing the University’s policy not to discuss pending proposals.