Pinky Cole is no stranger to setbacks — but the Atlanta entrepreneur is trying to turn turbulence into triumph once again. After nearly losing ownership of her famed Slutty Vegan brand earlier this year, Cole has officially launched a new venture on May 25, Voagies, a vegan hoagie shop operating out of her original storefront in Atlanta’s West View neighborhood. But even her comeback hasn’t come without drama.
Good News, Bad News
In February, Cole revealed she no longer owned Slutty Vegan after entering an “assignment for the benefit of creditors,” a restructuring move to address mounting debt and overhead. By late March, she had bought the company back. The ordeal was just one of several business blows, including a lawsuit involving Bar Vegan, another one of her ventures, and tensions that had surfaced with Slutty Vegan’s rapid expansion.
Now, Voagies was to mark the beginning of what Cole calls “Slutty Vegan 2.0.” Speaking at the grand opening, She said she’s been dreaming of a vegan hoagie shop for six years and finally brought it to life. “This is a hoagie shop like you have never experienced before,” she said. “This brand is going to scale in a way that you ain’t never seen before.”
But just as things were looking up, Cole was hit with yet another blow — her Bentley Bentayga was stolen. According to Cole, three people on scooters swiped the luxury car right outside the new Voagies shop while customers waited in line for sandwiches.
“Somebody just stole our car right in front of the restaurant‼️ Smdh, she posted on Instagram. “If you see a black Bentley Bentayga in Atlanta dm me 911”.
It was an unsettling twist to what should’ve been a celebratory weekend. Still, Cole remains unfazed. In the Instagram video on her post, she said, “We can’t catch a break,” she said. “But you know, God is still good.”
Despite the bumps, Cole is betting big on her new concept and a revitalized Slutty Vegan brand. “I don’t think it’s gonna work, I know it’s gonna work,” she said.
