Slutty Vegan, the plant-based burger chain founded by Baltimore native Aisha "Pinky" Cole Hayes, is packing up its fryers at Baltimore Peninsula and planning a move to the Johns Hopkins Hospital campus along Monument Street. The company announced on June 9 that the relocation is meant to bring its plant-based burgers closer to the city’s core, although it has not yet shared a specific street address or opening date. The switch comes only months after the brand’s December 2024 debut at the Peninsula, where it was one of the development’s first restaurants.
Relocation details
In a press release, Slutty Vegan said it intends to relocate "to the campus of Johns Hopkins Hospital on Monument Street" and is "targeting an opening in 2027," according to PR Newswire. Founder Aisha "Pinky" Cole Hayes is quoted as saying, "This move is about people," adding that the brand wants to "meet our customers where they are." The company said more details, including the exact Johns Hopkins address and a firmer timeline, will come later.
Local reporting
Coverage by the Baltimore Business Journal noted that the relocation is meant to bring Slutty Vegan "closer to the heart of Baltimore." Reporter Morgan Simpson pointed out that the move follows a relatively short run at the Peninsula, with the waterfront spot having opened only in late 2024, and echoed much of the company’s official explanation.
Peninsula roots
Slutty Vegan opened at Rye Street Market in the Baltimore Peninsula in December 2024 and was billed as an anchor tenant for the mixed-use development. Hoodline previously covered the emotional homecoming for Cole at that grand opening, while SouthBMore lists the Peninsula address as 301 Mission Blvd. The Peninsula has been steadily marketing new retail and event space as it works through its first wave of tenants.
Business context
The Baltimore move comes during a period of financial restructuring for Cole and her brands. She filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this year, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. That filing followed a company reorganization in 2025 and several location closures that raised questions about the chain’s national footprint. Industry watchers say the Hopkins relocation will be one of the moves to watch as Cole and her team retool the business.
What’s next
For customers, a Johns Hopkins campus spot would place Slutty Vegan within easy reach of hospital staff, students and visitors, compared with its current waterfront-adjacent home. The company also said it is expanding across the country through franchising and is seeking experienced operators, according to its press materials, and that further site and opening details are expected later this year, per PR Newswire. For now, the exact timing and mechanics of the move, along with any impact on Peninsula foot traffic, remain open questions.
Why it matters
The decision will be closely watched by Peninsula boosters as they continue to fill out the development’s retail lineup. Local reporting has tracked the Peninsula’s evolving tenant mix and the broader construction activity reshaping neighborhoods across Baltimore. Baltimore Fishbowl has chronicled the Peninsula’s progress in recent years. Community reaction, along with any operational changes at the Rye Street Market location, are key details to watch as Slutty Vegan works through its next chapter in its hometown.
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