Todd Sheridan and Nichelle Roane, owners of Treehouse Juicery, opened their all-natural juice bar storefront and commercial kitchen in Baltimore City two years ago with the goal of providing healthy alternatives in food deserts. Recently, someone broke into their storefront and stole equipment, a computer and $1,000 worth of juice.
No arrests have been made as the owners work to re-open their business.
“A break-in and robbery can set any small business back, but it can be devastating for a start-up," said Dennis Sullivan, executive director of CCBC's Center for Business Innovation.
“As a family-owned small business and community member of Baltimore City, we can easily say how devastated we were to open our shop's doors and see our hard earned belongings missing, damaged, and/or in disarray," says Todd Sheridan, co-founder of Treehouse Juicery. “To know how easily our livelihood can be affected by senseless acts was a wake-up call to always cherish what you care for. Despite the setbacks and now dealing back and forth with authorities and insurance, Dennis and CCBC did not hesitate to step in and be a true supporter."
“Todd and Nichelle are some of the hardest working entrepreneurs we know and to have something like this happen to them is just gut wrenching. We have been supporting them since they launched their business and we want to make sure they can continue to serve the community and grow their business in spite of the break-in." -Dennis Sullivan, executive director, Center for Business Innovation
Treehouse Juicery won CCBC's 2020 Annual Business Plan Competition and were awarded $20,000 to help launch their business. They were also members of CCBC's 2021 Elite Accelerator Program in which they received additional funding and coaching to help grow their business.
CCBC's Center for Business Innovation serves students and alumni who are interested starting and growing a business. Since 2013, the center has helped launch 59 new businesses, awarded more than $450,000 to entrepreneurs and worked with about 5,000 people on their business goals. Funding is provided thanks to the generous support of the Philip E. and Carole R. Ratcliffe Foundation.
