Slutty Vegan founder Pinky Cole Hayes is once again navigating legal challenges after being hit with a new lawsuit alleging unpaid rent at two of her Atlanta restaurant locations.
An affiliate of Asana Partners, the real estate firm behind hubs like Krog Street Market and Plaza Fiesta, filed a complaint in Fulton County State Court accusing Cole and her business entities of breaching leases on two Edgewood Avenue properties, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The suit claims she owes more than $87,000 in back rent, late fees, and interest.
This legal setback follows Cole’s February 2025 financial restructuring, when she temporarily transferred ownership of her business to an assignee due to mounting overhead costs—reportedly reaching $10 million—before regaining control under her new company, Ain’t Nobody Coming to See You, Otis LLC. Since then, her businesses have faced multiple lawsuits in Maryland and New York over alleged unpaid rent and credit card charges tied to the period before the restructuring.
Public reaction to the latest filing has been divided. Supporters flooded social media with prayers and encouragement, while critics argued that the financial turbulence stems from Slutty Vegan’s rapid expansion.
“Praying that she’s able to clear this all up in Jesus’ name, amen!” one supporter wrote. Meanwhile, others pointed to sustainability issues, with one commenter stating, “Expanding without the proper knowledge base of sustainability is clearly what occurred here.”
The lawsuit also reignited debate about Cole’s role as a business mentor. Some questioned how she could speak at Invest Fest in Atlanta about entrepreneurship while simultaneously facing ongoing financial battles.
Cole has been open about Slutty Vegan’s challenges. In March, she admitted the restructuring came from “chasing something that I couldn’t catch for many reasons,” acknowledging that the brand grew too large and costly to sustain.
The shake-up forced the cancellation of a planned Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport location and the closure of the Spelman College outlet, later replaced by Twisted Taco.
Despite the hurdles, Slutty Vegan continues to operate eight locations nationwide—five in Georgia and one each in Alabama, Maryland, and New York.
