The popular café, located in La Mesa Village, first announced it would temporarily close earlier this month while making “organizational changes,” following a small protest and a wave of allegations from individuals claiming they were not paid for their work. Since then, multiple media outlets have reported similar claims, including accounts from former employees who say they went weeks without pay and ultimately walked off the job. According to interviews, some workers reported being owed thousands of dollars, with one stating he received only a fraction of roughly $5,000 in earned wages.
Now, newly surfaced documentation appears to raise additional concerns about the business’s future. A notice posted at a property associated with Public Square Holdings, Inc., also tied to Pierre’s Pizza Place at 8142 La Mesa Boulevard, indicates a 3-day notice to pay rent or quit, citing $14,600 in unpaid rent owed through April 18, 2026. The filing adds to a growing picture of financial distress connected to entities within the broader business structure.
The eviction notice follows a series of escalating developments that began with a worker-led protest outside the café, where signs reading “Public Square Doesn’t Pay Workers” and “Working For Free” drew public attention. In the days that followed, additional accounts emerged across multiple platforms, with former staff alleging delayed or missing paychecks, some claiming they worked weeks without compensation. Following SanDiegoVille's report, these claims were echoed in reporting by Fox 5, ABC 10, and Times of San Diego, which describe a coordinated walkout by employees who refused to return until paid in full.
Public Square owner Aaron Henderson acknowledged financial difficulties in a message sent to employees, stating, “we truly don't have the money” and that even his own family was owed “tens of thousands of dollars in back pay.” He also indicated that his home was in forbearance to avoid foreclosure. Henderson has not responded to multiple media requests for formal comment.
Further complicating the situation, shareholders and former operators of the La Mesa location, Alexis and Judah Henderson, publicly confirmed they resigned following the all-staff walkout. In a detailed statement, they said they had no control over company finances despite overseeing daily operations, and attributed the business’s decline to expansion-related financial strain. They wrote that the La Mesa store was burdened with loans used to fund other ventures, ultimately leading to delayed paychecks for both themselves and staff.
“Workers deserve to be paid for their work,” the statement reads. “Unfortunately, goodwill was taken advantage of, and poor financial decisions have had severe consequences.”
The situation has also drawn attention to the broader structure behind Public Square and its affiliated businesses. Public records confirm the company previously sought to raise between $200,000 and $1 million through a 2024 crowdfunding campaign, highlighting expansion plans that included a rooftop addition and additional locations. While expansion was positioned as a growth strategy, multiple reports now suggest it may have contributed to the financial strain described by both employees and former operators.
At the same time, additional unverified claims continue to circulate regarding unpaid contractors, investor disputes, and complex interrelated business entities. SanDiegoVille has not independently confirmed these claims, but they add to an increasingly complex and concerning narrative surrounding the company’s operations.
Despite the original framing of the closure as temporary, the café has now remained closed for more than a week with no clear reopening timeline. Combined with employee walkouts, public allegations, leadership resignations, and now a posted eviction notice tied to a related entity, the path forward for Public Square Coffee appears increasingly uncertain.
What began as a localized labor dispute has quickly evolved into a broader story involving financial instability, business structure questions, and accountability, with the outcome still very much unresolved.
SanDiegoVille will continue to monitor developments and update this story as additional verified information becomes available or if Public Square Coffee House issues further comment.
Public Square owner Aaron Henderson acknowledged financial difficulties in a message sent to employees, stating, “we truly don't have the money” and that even his own family was owed “tens of thousands of dollars in back pay.” He also indicated that his home was in forbearance to avoid foreclosure. Henderson has not responded to multiple media requests for formal comment.
Further complicating the situation, shareholders and former operators of the La Mesa location, Alexis and Judah Henderson, publicly confirmed they resigned following the all-staff walkout. In a detailed statement, they said they had no control over company finances despite overseeing daily operations, and attributed the business’s decline to expansion-related financial strain. They wrote that the La Mesa store was burdened with loans used to fund other ventures, ultimately leading to delayed paychecks for both themselves and staff.
“Workers deserve to be paid for their work,” the statement reads. “Unfortunately, goodwill was taken advantage of, and poor financial decisions have had severe consequences.”
The situation has also drawn attention to the broader structure behind Public Square and its affiliated businesses. Public records confirm the company previously sought to raise between $200,000 and $1 million through a 2024 crowdfunding campaign, highlighting expansion plans that included a rooftop addition and additional locations. While expansion was positioned as a growth strategy, multiple reports now suggest it may have contributed to the financial strain described by both employees and former operators.
At the same time, additional unverified claims continue to circulate regarding unpaid contractors, investor disputes, and complex interrelated business entities. SanDiegoVille has not independently confirmed these claims, but they add to an increasingly complex and concerning narrative surrounding the company’s operations.
Despite the original framing of the closure as temporary, the café has now remained closed for more than a week with no clear reopening timeline. Combined with employee walkouts, public allegations, leadership resignations, and now a posted eviction notice tied to a related entity, the path forward for Public Square Coffee appears increasingly uncertain.
What began as a localized labor dispute has quickly evolved into a broader story involving financial instability, business structure questions, and accountability, with the outcome still very much unresolved.
SanDiegoVille will continue to monitor developments and update this story as additional verified information becomes available or if Public Square Coffee House issues further comment.
Public Square Coffee House is located at 8278 La Mesa Boulevard in San Diego's East County city of La Mesa. For more information, visit publicsquare.coffee.
Originally published on April 15, 2026.
Originally published on April 15, 2026.
