Lauren Drewes Daniels
Audio By Carbonatix
When Aisha “Pinky” Cole’s first restaurant burned down, the legend of her multi-million-dollar comeback story rose from the ashes.
After promoting her vegan lifestyle to more than a million Instagram followers, her next move was inevitable and slutty.
Slutty Vegan, Cole’s strictly vegan fast-food chain, debuted in Atlanta in 2018 and shamelessly leaned into late-night motifs and risqué menu items. It expanded to Dallas in 2023, opening at 2707 Elm St. in Deep Ellum, and closed in late 2024.
On Feb. 12, Cole filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. According to court documents, Cole owes $1.2 million to the Small Business Administration for a COVID-era Economic Injury Disaster Loan. She also owes $192,000 in taxes to the Georgia Department of Revenue.
Restructuring
The beginning of the end started in February 2025, when Slutty Vegan underwent state-level restructuring. During this time, eight locations closed. It was rumored that they would undergo renovations and reopen, but that was never confirmed.
Mid-2025 brought more civil litigation, including cases over unpaid rent at two Atlanta locations and wage-related lawsuits.
Under the restructure, Cole no longer owned the company, but she was fighting to buy it back, and it now operates as a franchise.
“They counted me out. They whispered that it was over, but when God writes your story, no storm can erase it. Today I stand proud to say… SLUTTY VEGAN IS OFFICIALLY FRANCHISING!” Cole announced on Instagram last September.
Of the original 14 locations, six remain: Slutty Vegan in Brandon, Florida; Baltimore, Maryland; Brooklyn, New York; Birmingham, Alabama; Atlanta;b and Jonesboro, Georgia.
The company hasn’t confirmed if it has franchised new locations or resolved its legal issues.
Real Housewives of Atlanta
However, we do know that Pinky Cole will join the cast of The Real Housewives of Atlanta for Season 17, where she will pull back the curtain on what it takes to run and build a multi-million-dollar business.
Is it damage control? Is it tying up loose ends? We can all find out when the season premieres on Sunday, April 5.
Despite being plant-based, Slutty Vegan had long lines of people eager for a One Night Stand, one of the loaded burgers with signature slutty strips of vegan bacon, vegan cheese, onion, lettuce, tomato and Slut Sauce on a vegan Hawaiian bun. Or a Hollywood Hooker, which is a vegan take on a Philly cheesesteak.
And if you’re going to stand in line, you have to get the fries sprinkled with the signature Slut Dust.
Now take a shot for every time you just read the word slut.
