Slutty Vegan founder Pinky Cole seeks Chapter 11 protection, listing SBA debt near $1 million

Bankruptcy filing adds to a complex restructuring timeline for Atlanta’s high-profile plant-based restaurant brand

Aisha “Pinky” Cole, the founder of Atlanta-based Slutty Vegan, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, listing nearly $1 million owed to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) among her debts. The filing places the entrepreneur behind one of the city’s most recognizable plant-based restaurant brands into the federal court-supervised restructuring system used by individuals and businesses to manage debt while seeking a path forward.

Chapter 11 is designed to pause most collection actions through an automatic stay, establish a structured process for presenting creditor claims, and allow a debtor to propose a plan to reorganize finances over time. The case will proceed under bankruptcy court oversight, with required disclosures about assets, liabilities, income, and a proposed framework for repayment or reorganization.

How the filing fits into Slutty Vegan’s recent business shifts

The Chapter 11 petition comes after a period of operational and financial turbulence around Slutty Vegan and related entities tied to the brand. In 2025, Cole publicly described a restructuring that temporarily resulted in her giving up control of the company and later regaining it, framing the changes as a reset focused on tighter operations and long-term sustainability.

Over the same period, court records and public filings linked to Slutty Vegan-related entities have reflected creditor disputes beyond federal bankruptcy proceedings. Those have included landlord claims alleging past-due rent tied to leased retail space, as well as other reported collection actions involving commercial obligations. The pattern underscores the type of pressure that often precedes formal restructuring filings: fixed costs, lease commitments, and short-term cash flow strain.

What the SBA debt could indicate

SBA-backed obligations frequently stem from government-supported small business lending programs. In a Chapter 11 case, SBA debt is generally treated as part of the broader creditor landscape that must be addressed through schedules and, eventually, a plan that proposes how each class of claims will be handled. Whether an SBA-related claim is secured, guaranteed, or tied to specific collateral can shape negotiations and repayment terms within the case.

Key elements to watch as the case moves forward

• Initial bankruptcy schedules detailing assets, liabilities, and the full creditor list.
• Any motions seeking authority to continue ordinary-course operations and pay certain ongoing expenses.
• Deadlines for creditors to file claims and any objections to those claims.
• A proposed Chapter 11 plan outlining repayment, restructuring terms, and feasibility.

Chapter 11 cases can move quickly in early stages but often take months to resolve, depending on the complexity of the debts, the number of creditors, and the debtor’s ability to propose a workable plan.

The filing does not, by itself, determine the future of Slutty Vegan’s restaurants. Instead, it begins a formal process that will test whether Cole can reorganize her financial obligations—particularly the SBA debt—while maintaining or stabilizing the business ecosystem connected to the brand.