Michael Cunningham, Jr. is bringing two locations of fitness studio FS8 to the Atlanta market. In addition to opening a spot in Buckhead later this fall, Cunningham has plans to open a second location in Decatur in a forthcoming mixed-use development at the corner of East College Avenue and Sams Crossing. That location is expected to open in Q2 of 2026.
These are Cunningham’s first two locations with the brand, as well as the first in the Atlanta market. FS8 offers a combination of fitness approaches, including yoga, Pilates and functional strength training that meld together to provide a high-intensity, low-impact workout.
In addition to opening the studio in Buckhead this year, Cunningham is launching a nonprofit called the Dixie R. Cunningham Foundation, which will work to provide wellness opportunities to those who cannot afford it. Cunningham’s goal is to use his brand to make wellness and fitness options more inclusive and accessible.
This goal falls in line with the forthcoming Decatur location, as well.
“What I’m excited about is that the area itself — that development — has about 40 to 50 units out of the 300 that are completely dedicated to affordable housing,” Cunningham said. “Not only will there be affordable housing in this complex, but there’s a small grocery store that’s going to be opened as well. And then I get to provide a boutique fitness studio to the area surrounding it.”
Positioned in an area with affordable housing opportunities, Cunningham hopes to be able to connect people with his nonprofit as well as with the studio so they can access wellness resources. Channeling skills that he used in his multi-decade career in cybersecurity, Cunningham is aiming to begin to build the nonprofit with a portion of the revenue from the initial Buckhead location and continue to grow the nonprofit alongside the local FS8 brand heading into 2026.
“Whatever I did in cybersecurity or managing teams, it’s always been about trying to make the whole better versus just a select group,” Cunningham said. “So I looked at the fact that they’re investing into that area [in Decatur]. It feels like a privilege for me to be able to establish some type of fund where folks that are eligible for affordable housing can have the opportunity to be part of wellness as well, versus managing income in such a way where they can only afford the bare necessities.”
Ultimately, Cunningham is aiming to open about 10 studios, both in Atlanta and in several other markets in the Southeast.
