Bar Vegan, a vegan nightlife concept started in Atlanta by restaurateur and Baltimore native Pinky Cole Hayes, opens Friday at Baltimore Peninsula, a month after her restaurant Slutty Vegan made its premiere.

“After the success of Slutty Vegan’s opening last month, it feels so good to be back in my city to continue the excitement and celebrate the opening of Bar Vegan,” Cole Hayes said in a “statement. Under her entrepreneurship, Slutty Vegan went from an Instagram business in 2018 to a food truck to now a cult brand with locations in five states across the country.

“Bar Vegan takes the food you know and love from Slutty Vegan and ups the ante with unique drinks and intricate dishes, all in an elevated, stunning space,” she said.

Though the menu for the Baltimore location hasn’t been released, Bar Vegan’s menu in Atlanta boasts offerings like vegan takes on cheesesteak eggrolls, jerk kabob and spaghetti alfredo alongside a host of vegan cocktails.

Between the two new businesses, Cole Hayes has created 88 jobs, 77 of which are being filled by city residents, according to the release.

“Today’s opening of Bar Vegan marks a powerful moment of growth and celebration for Baltimore. Pinky Cole’s return to her hometown to invest in its future reflects the resilience and entrepreneurial spirit that define our city,” Mayor Brandon Scott said in a statement.

“This venture not only adds vibrancy to Baltimore Peninsula but also creates opportunities and inspires others to dream big and give back,” he said.

Slutty Vegan and Bar Vegan are both on the ground floor of Rye Street Market in the Baltimore Peninsula area, formerly known as Port Covington. More restaurants and retailers are coming to the area in 2025, including the city’s first Ben & Jerry’s brick and mortar, Slurp Noodle Bar and Live-K Karaoke..

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