****DO NOT DONATE MONEY TO CHANGE.ORG. IT DOES NOT GO TO US. IT ALL GOES TO THEM. IF YOU WANT TO DONATE TO HELP US, PLEASE CASH APP US $EAVTREEHOUSE****

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

We need your help more than ever. East Atlanta Treehouse is under attack — and we need your voice now.

East Atlanta Treehouse is not just a restaurant, bar, or venue — it’s a safe haven, a cultural hub, and the heartbeat of a community. 

This space exists because of the vision and dedication of King Shands, who has spent over a decade uplifting the creative community of East Atlanta at 485 Flat Shoals Ave. He first served as general manager of the event space The Union from 2012 to 2021, and in 2021, he took over the business from its previous owner, J Sol, and founded East Atlanta Treehouse. Since then, he has continued his mission of helping countless independent artists, musicians, LGBTQ+ creators, and entrepreneurs find both a platform and a sense of community. Treehouse is the physical manifestation of that mission — a living, breathing hub for innovation, celebration, and connection.

However, Shands’ vision extended far beyond hosting events. After a lengthy, four-year journey navigating the licensing and permitting process, he finally realized his dream of transforming the space into a full-service restaurant and venue, officially fully-opening East Atlanta Treehouse in January 2025.

Treehouse is a one-of-a-kind establishment — offering everything from acai bowls, salads, and vegan pizzas to churros, hotdogs, and traditional pizzas, mocktails and cocktails, non-nicotine and tobacco-free hookah, and nightly community-centered events like break dancing, open mics, video game nights, concerts, and more. Treehouse stays open until 2am because he’s committed to serving his community in a way no one else does.

But now, that’s under threat.

When Canvas Companies LLC purchased our building in February 2025, they publicly promised to support small businesses and focus on keeping local tenants in their spaces. But instead of honoring those words, they gave us a 60-day notice to vacate and demanded that we reapply for the unit we already occupied.

After receiving a proposal from them with new lease terms, we discovered that the rental rate was increasing by 75%. After speaking to a Canvas Companies representative about particulars, we agreed to their 75% rent increase and began to complete the application process. We submitted our financials as a part of the process. We sent in our early startup numbers and our numbers after our revenue increased. Our records showed we were making 8x the new rental rate - excluding cash earned. Based on national benchmarks, this level of profitability puts us in the top 5% of restaurants in our phase. Their response? Denial.

Canvas Companies claimed their lender, Colony Bank, denied our lease application because we didn’t make “enough” to stay — arbitrarily deciding that we must make 13x the almost doubled rent to be considered viable. We never received this denial in writing from Colony Bank - only verbally from Canvas Companies representatives. We simply took their word on it. Based on their metrics, that means we would have to generate over $1,100,000 during our first year. 

Let’s be clear: fewer than 2% of independently owned restaurants hit that milestone in their first year. And yet, that’s the impossible standard they’re holding us to. Ironically, keeping up the pace we’re at, we are on track to gross $1,000,000 within the next 2 years. Only 5-7% of independently owned restaurants gross $1,000,000 period. Most gross between $250,000 to $750,000.

This is not about viability. This is about pushing us out. 

Many minority entrepreneurs are systematically shut out of spaces where they could thrive—not because of lack of talent or vision, but because the standards set for entry are intentionally steep, selective, and often unattainable. When we reach the finish line, they move the goal post. Welcome to the life of a black entrepreneur. 

We’ve done everything right. We’ve worked extremely hard, been transparent, and financially responsible. Yet we’re being pushed out under the guise of “policy” and “profitability,” despite outperforming industry standards and surpassing reasonable rent requirements. 

Canvas Companies has given us until June 30th to vacate the space. How fair is that? How can one realistically secure another location in less than 60 days? Finding a space, pulling permits, completing build-outs, and licensing can take months. We’ve asked them for more time to give us a fair chance, but simply put, they don't care and want us out. As long as they sleep well at night, they don’t care about us being in jeopardy of losing our livelihood and everything we’ve worked for. We’re just a number to them. They have even started requesting to show our space to prospective tenants while we’re still in it.

We are asking the community and city leaders to stand with us and petition for Canvas Companies and Colony Bank to either issue us a lease or give us 6 months to find a space and move. We are simply asking to be treated like human beings and be given a fair and adequate amount of time to find another location if we’re going to be unfairly forced out. This is our livelihood.

Here’s how you can help:

1. Sign this petition to show your support and let Canvas Companies and Colony Bank know this space matters and to give us a lease or a fair and adequate amount of time to find another location. Tag @canvascompanies and @colonybank on social media. 

2. Share this with your network — online, in person, and everywhere in between. We need to bring awareness to how black businesses are being forced out by investors and developers.

3. Tag all media outlets and city leaders. @andreforatlanta @govkemp @michaeljulianbond @dougship @dougshipman.atl @11alive @fox5atlanta @alyseeadyfox5 @portiafox5 @tomjoneswsb @fredblankenship @wsbtv

4. Patronize our business by stopping by or through ordering on DoorDash, UberEats, or GrubHub! We need your support more than ever!

5. Tell your story — if Treehouse has impacted your life or your art, your voice matters. Use hashtag #WHY485 and #GIVETREEHOUSEACHANCE on social media

6. Support us during our move and search for a new space by donating to our GoFundMe. Funds will be utilized for moving and storage expenses, commercial property down payment or lease deposit requirements, and renovations to the newly secured space.

7. Help us in our search to find a new location. If you see a potential location, please DM us. We are open to kitchen-only spaces to be able to continue our food operations until we can secure a full-concept venue again.

They will not break us!

This is your space, our space, Atlanta’s space.

Let’s show em what community really looks like. Please continue to pray for us. We need all the positive energy and support we can get as we fight for our livelihood.

#GiveTreehouseAChance #Why485