Black East Atlanta Restaurant Owners Challenge Discrimination as Rent Skyrockets: A 75% Hike and Unfair Lease Terms

Owners of East Atlanta’s Black-owned East Atlanta Treehouse, King Shands and Brittney Wilson, claim they are being unfairly displaced by Canvas Companies LLC, the new real estate owners of their space. Shands, who transitioned into the restaurant business in 2021, reports a troubling experience following the acquisition, where he and Wilson were prompted to reapply for their lease amidst a proposed 75% rent increase. Though they provided evidence of strong revenue, their application was denied due to alleged income criteria set by their lender, Colony Bank. With just weeks to vacate, the owners have launched an online petition seeking public support for a lease extension. Both express concerns over gentrification's impact on local Black businesses, reinforcing a narrative of systemic discrimination in minority entrepreneurship.