Slutty Vegan founder Pinky Cole is facing a whopping $87,000 lawsuit over claims of unpaid rent for two of her Atlanta-based store locations.
An affiliate of Asana Partners LLC, a real estate firm, has filed a complaint in Fulton County State Court accusing Cole and her current and former businesses of breaching leases on two Edgewood Avenue properties, according to FOX 5.
The locations, Cole’s Slutty Vegan and The Morning After restaurants, were reportedly past due on rent of nearly $40,000. That number is then compounded by a late fee of 5% and an interest rate on past due amounts of 7%.
“As a result of Tenant’s breach of the Leases for failure to pay rent and other monetary charges due, Landlord has suffered damages in an amount to be proven at trial, but in no event less than the total sum $87,312.65, exclusive of late fees and interest, plus additional rent and other charges that accrue under the Leases at the rate of $13,665.34 per month, subject to regularly scheduled adjustments reflected in the Leases,” the lawsuit states, according to the outlet.
The filing marks the latest in a string of financial and operational challenges for Cole’s restaurant group. Slutty Vegan, which began as a food truck in 2019 and expanded to 14 locations across four states, has since scaled back to five restaurants, according to the company’s website. Earlier this year, several Bar Vegan locations—another concept co-founded by Cole—also closed.
In addition to operational challenges, in May, Cole’s Bentley was stolen in front of her newest Atlanta location. As Atlanta News First reports, three men jumped into the black Bentley Bentayga and drove away in broad daylight.
“We can’t catch a break, but you know, God is still good,” Cole said at the time.