Cleveland Creole Restaurant Sues Landlord for Alleged Racial Discrimination

House of Creole claims K&D Group refused to renew lease due to Black ownership and clientele

Mar. 13, 2026 at 5:35pm

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A Creole restaurant in downtown Cleveland, House of Creole, has sued its former landlord, K&D Group, accusing the property management company of racial discrimination. The restaurant alleges that K&D refused to renew its lease after the restaurant changed its concept to feature a Black owner-partner and attract a predominantly Black clientele, with the property manager even texting to "get your people out" of the restaurant during its first week of operation.

Why it matters

This lawsuit highlights ongoing concerns about racial discrimination in the restaurant and commercial real estate industries, where minority-owned businesses may face unfair treatment from landlords. The case also raises questions about how property managers handle noise and other complaints, and whether those issues are sometimes used as pretexts to target certain tenants.

The details

According to the federal civil rights lawsuit, House of Creole opened at 668 Euclid in 2022, taking over a space in an apartment building that had previously housed other bars and restaurants operated by Third Space Partners LLC. The restaurant's partnership with a Black owner, Jeff Miskiri, and its focus on Creole cuisine and playing hip-hop/R&B music, allegedly led to issues with the property manager at K&D Group. The manager is accused of texting a Third Space employee to "get your people out of there immediately" during House of Creole's first week, and later telling a white Third Space employee that his visit to the restaurant "makes me feel a lot better." The lawsuit claims K&D Group unfairly pinned issues on House of Creole, exaggerated noise complaints from tenants, and ultimately refused to renew the restaurant's lease by October 2025.

  • House of Creole opened at 668 Euclid in 2022.
  • During House of Creole's first week of operation in 2022, the property manager texted complaints.
  • By October 2025, K&D Group refused to renew House of Creole's lease.

The players

Third Space Partners LLC

The restaurant group that operated House of Creole, as well as two previous establishments at the same location.

Jeff Miskiri

The Black owner-partner who joined Third Space Partners to open House of Creole.

K&D Group

The property management company that owns the building where House of Creole was located and refused to renew the restaurant's lease.

Douglas Price III

The CEO of K&D Group, who called the racism allegations "ridiculous" and said the lawsuit was filed to "extort" the company.

668 Atrium LLC

A subsidiary of K&D Group that was named in the lawsuit.

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What they’re saying

“Get your people out of there immediately”

— Property manager (Lawsuit)

“you going down makes me feel a lot better”

— Property manager (Lawsuit)

“The allegations of racism were 'ridiculous' and the lawsuit was filed to 'extort' them.”

— Douglas Price III, CEO of K&D Group (cleveland.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide whether to allow the lawsuit to proceed.

The takeaway

This case highlights ongoing concerns about racial discrimination in the restaurant and commercial real estate industries, where minority-owned businesses may face unfair treatment from landlords. It raises questions about how property managers handle complaints and whether those issues are sometimes used as pretexts to target certain tenants.