Slutty Vegan is officially on its way to Detroit, with founder Pinky Cole Hayes locking in a Corktown location that local fans have been clamoring for since her one-day pop-up drew long lines earlier this spring. Detroit entrepreneur Obinani Iwuoha has signed on as franchisee and will lead development of the brand’s first permanent Midwest location at 1441 W. Elizabeth Street.
In a social announcement highlighted by The Michigan Chronicle, Cole Hayes confirmed she had inked a franchise agreement with Iwuoha and called the Detroit move “a pivotal moment for us.” The outlet reports that the Corktown restaurant is scheduled to open later this year after construction and build-out work wraps, cementing the concept’s first permanent outpost in the Midwest.
Space and timeline
According to LoopNet, the future Slutty Vegan site at 1441 W. Elizabeth is a roughly 4,400-square-foot, restaurant-ready space that hit the market earlier this spring. The listing points to recent renovations and a full build-out capability, which the company will still need to complete before doors open. That head start on infrastructure could help streamline permits and construction aimed at a fall 2026 debut.
A comeback play
The Detroit expansion doubles as a comeback move for Cole Hayes, who has been working to steady the company after a string of high-profile financial and legal headaches. Her Chapter 11 filing earlier this spring and a 2025 restructuring put a spotlight on franchising as a way to stabilize growth while keeping the brand in the public eye.
In the social post cited by The Michigan Chronicle, Cole Hayes wrote that “my wounds have become my wisdom,” framing the Corktown deal as a kind of real-world vote of confidence in Slutty Vegan’s next chapter.
What it could mean for Corktown
For Detroit diners, a Slutty Vegan brick-and-mortar promises a buzzy new option in Corktown’s evolving restaurant lineup and one more reason for burger seekers to crowd the neighborhood. For Iwuoha and other local operators watching closely, the franchise offers a chance to plug into a nationally known name while keeping day-to-day operations rooted in Detroit-based leadership.
The company says more details on hiring and grand-opening plans will roll out in the months ahead, giving Corktown a little time to brace for the next wave of plant-based burger pilgrims.
