After a four-year presence in the bustling Ponce City Market, Bar Vegan, the cocktail bar and restaurant backed by the prominent vegan entrepreneur Pinky Cole and her Slutty Vegan collective, has permanently closed its doors. The final service day for the vibrant establishment was Sunday, May 5th, marking a significant change in the culinary landscape of the popular mixed-use development.
The closure of Bar Vegan appears to be part of a wider strategic restructuring underway within Cole’s Atlanta-based vegan food empire, Slutty Vegan. In recent months, the company has also shuttered its Duluth location and its smaller outposts situated on the campuses of Georgia Tech and Spelman University. These closures suggest a potential recalibration of the brand’s physical presence within the Atlanta metropolitan area.
Bar Vegan, known for its creative vegan cocktails and plant-based bar fare in a lively atmosphere, had become a notable addition to Ponce City Market’s diverse dining options since its inception. Its closure leaves a void in the market’s nightlife and vegan scene.
This period of consolidation follows a notable event in 2024 when Pinky Cole temporarily relinquished majority ownership of her burgeoning company. However, recent reports indicate that Cole has successfully regained control, positioning her to steer the brand through this phase of reorganization.
The reasons behind these closures have not been explicitly stated by the company. However, such strategic shifts are common in the restaurant industry and can be influenced by various factors, including lease agreements, operational costs, and evolving business strategies. As Slutty Vegan adapts its footprint, the future direction of the brand and its remaining locations will be closely watched by Atlanta’s vibrant food community and beyond.
