Real Housewives of Atlanta beginner/Slutty Vegan proprietor Pinky Cole is getting into her peach-holding period with headlines swirling, however she’s not letting the plant-based chapter buzz steal her highlight.
As reported by PEOPLE, the plant-based restaurant founder filed for Chapter 11 chapter safety on Mar. 2 within the state of Georgia. Court paperwork present she owes roughly 1.2 million to the U.S. Small Business Administration, tied to a COVID-era Economic Injury Disaster Loan, together with practically $192,000 to the Georgia Department of Revenue. The whole debt listed exceeds $ 1.3 million.
For these unfamiliar, Chapter 11 permits a enterprise proprietor to reorganize debt whereas persevering with operations. It doesn’t utterly shut down the enterprise. It is extra of a restructure, which is why Georgia residents can nonetheless get pleasure from their Slutty Vegan, and the unique has pivoted to a brand new enterprise referred to as Voagies.
Cole’s submitting comes after a rocky yr for her viral plant-based chain. In early 2025, the corporate entered into an Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors, a state-level different to chapter. Cole quickly gave up possession earlier than shopping for again the model and its mental property weeks later. The transfer signaled each monetary pressure and fierce dedication.
While some social media customers adopted intently, Cole addressed the chatter head-on. In a video shared by 11 Alive News, she appeared calm and assured, explaining that restructuring is a part of entrepreneurship and progress. She made it clear she remains to be standing and nonetheless constructing.
Meanwhile, a publish shared by Pinky added gasoline to the net dialog, with the entrepreneur laughing off the scenario.
In it, the entrepreneur is seen leaving her mansion together with her canine and suitcases in tow.
“What individuals assume occurs after you file for chapter,” she wrote over the video.
“Damn that’s crazzzzzzyyyyy,” she captioned the publish.
Slutty Vegan, based in 2018, exploded in Atlanta earlier than increasing nationwide and reportedly reached a $ 100 million valuation at its peak. Rapid progress introduced main overhead, and Cole beforehand informed Forbes that company bills as soon as totaled 10 million {dollars} yearly.
Now, with six places nonetheless working and a reorganization plan due in June, the entrepreneur is betting on resilience.
Bankruptcy headlines might pattern for a second. But if Pinky Cole has proven us something, it’s that she is aware of how you can flip controversy into dialog and dialog into cash.