Slutty Vegan Ohio is officially on the menu. The world-famous plant-based burger brand founded by entrepreneur and philanthropist Pinky Cole Hayes is expanding into the Buckeye State with planned locations in Columbus and Cleveland. For a brand built on flavor, culture, and joyful disruption, this Ohio debut feels less like a quiet restaurant opening and more like a plant-based drumline marching straight down Main Street.
The Atlanta-born concept has signed franchise agreements that will bring Slutty Vegan to two of Ohio’s most influential markets. The expansion marks a major step in the company’s national growth strategy. It also shows the growing appetite for plant-based comfort food that does not whisper politely from the corner of the menu.
Soul Republic Hospitality Group, led by founder Akin Affrica, will guide the brand’s Ohio rollout. The group brings deep experience in hospitality, local market development, and restaurant operations. That matters. A brand like Slutty Vegan is not just selling burgers. It is selling energy, attitude, community, and the kind of customer experience people tell their cousins about before they even finish the fries.
Affrica first visited Slutty Vegan in Atlanta in 2019. He quickly became a fan of both the food and the business model. That early spark eventually turned into a franchise partnership. Today, Soul Republic Hospitality Group operates seven brands and a dozen locations, making it well positioned to introduce Slutty Vegan Ohio to Cleveland and Columbus.
The new locations are expected to open in fall 2026. Additional details about the grand openings will be shared as construction and buildouts move forward.
Pinky Cole Hayes described Ohio as bold, hardworking, and ready for something different. That statement fits the brand’s personality. Slutty Vegan has always carried itself with a wink, a megaphone, and a mission. It challenges the old idea that vegan food must be plain, precious, or predictable. Instead, it serves plant-based burgers with big flavor, playful names, and a full-volume hospitality style.
Since launching in Atlanta in 2018, Slutty Vegan has grown from a viral food truck into a nationally recognized fast-casual brand. Its rise has been fueled by bold marketing, loyal fans, celebrity attention, and Cole Hayes’ larger vision for business and community impact. The company has become part restaurant, part movement, and part cultural fireworks show.
Cole Hayes has also continued to expand her public profile. As a bestselling author, philanthropist, and now a cast member on Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 17, she brings business savvy and unmistakable confidence to a national audience. That visibility gives Slutty Vegan even more momentum as it grows into new markets.
The arrival of Slutty Vegan Ohio is more than another restaurant announcement. It is a sign that plant-based dining is becoming louder, bolder, and more accessible across the Midwest. Cleveland and Columbus are getting ready for burgers with personality, sauce with swagger, and a brand that knows how to turn a meal into a moment.
For more information about franchise opportunities, visit sluttyveganatl.com/franchise. To learn more about Soul Republic Hospitality Group, visit soulrepublichg.com or follow @sluttyveganohio and @soulrepublichospitalitygroup on Instagram.