Atlanta – October 14, 2026 -- Slutty Vegan has converted its Fulton Street restaurant in Brooklyn, New York, into its first operating franchised location, handing ownership to Destiny Correa, the general manager who ran the site for nearly five years.
Founder gifts the store and waives two fees
Founder and CEO Pinky Cole Hayes gifted Correa the store outright. Slutty Vegan also waived both the initial franchise fee and the recurring marketing fee that new franchise partners typically pay. The brand cited Correa's years-long commitment as the reason.
Correa helped build Fulton Street into one of the brand's flagship restaurants. The location now operates under her ownership.
"I walked into this store five years ago as a manager, and now I'm walking back in as the owner," Correa said.
Brooklyn conversion follows franchise deals in four other markets
The conversion builds on franchise agreements the plant-based burger chain has already announced in Washington, D.C., Detroit, Ohio and its home market of Atlanta. Slutty Vegan describes its franchising move as a response to growing national demand and a focus on sustainable expansion in high-opportunity markets with experienced operators.
Cole Hayes launched the brand in Atlanta in 2018, starting from a single food truck. She said handing Correa the store was "a no-brainer," adding that the brand will help staff who put in the work own something real.