Vegan News

Celebrity Slutty Vegan burger joint in Dallas' Deep Ellum has closed

Slutty Vegan burgers

Slutty Vegan

A high-profile vegan burger joint in Dallas has closed: Slutty Vegan, the buzzy Atlanta-based concept founded by colorful enterpreneur Pinky Cole, has closed its location at 2707 Main St. in Deep Ellum.

The restaurant was not open during usual hours and it's currently marked "temporarily closed" online. The company is notoriously reclusive, and a representative did not respond to inquiries; but shortly after said inquiries were sent, the restaurant posted a reel that said:

"Our Dallas location is currently getting some work done on her!!!" and recommended that fans try other locations.

The Slutty Vegan in Birmingham, Alabama, also closed "temporarily," but the company stated they would be reopening and eventually did. No such plans have been laid for the Dallas location, and inquiries about a reopening went unanswered.

Slutty Vegan was founded by Cole, an outspoken champion of the vegan lifestyle, who started it as an Instagram business, before opening her first restaurant in Atlanta in 2018 with a menu of vegan burgers, sandwiches, and fries, in a vividly bright atmosphere with graffiti-style decor.

The combination and a celebrity magnet, drawing fans like Snoop Dogg, Jermaine Dupri, Taraji P. Henson, Tyler Perry, and Queen Latifah.

The sandwiches had a sloppy, decadent appearance, with generous doses of their signature "Slutty sauce" — a rich spicy take on the usual secret sauce.

The Dallas location opened in May 2023, ironically right across from a BBQ place, with a menu of sassily-named favorites including the One Night Stand (a burger with vegan bacon, vegan cheese, onions, lettuce, tomato & Slut Sauce on a vegan Hawaiian bun); Fussy Hussy (a burger with pickles, vegan cheese, caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato & Slut Sauce); and Hollywood Hooker, a vegan chopped Philly with jalapeños, bell pepper, caramelized onions, vegan provolone, lettuce, tomato, ketchup & vegan mayo on a hoagie roll).

Their signature is the "Ménage à Trois" featuring a plant-based patty, vegan bacon, vegan shrimp, vegan cheese, caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato, and Slut Sauce. Other options included a chicken sandwich called the Chick’N Head; a plant-based bratwurse called the Big Dawg; and the "PLT" featuring plantains in a sweet jerk sauce.

While the Dallas restaurant's opening was met with the trademark long lines, the location's success was hampered by the fact that it had no dine-in seating, making it essentially a to-go spot — but in a neighborhood where easy drive-up access or parking was limited.

The chain has nine brick-and-mortar locations, including Atlanta, on-campus at Georgia Tech, Athens, and Brooklyn, and they're still opening locations and hosting pop-ups in cities like Nashville.

deep-ellum closings

Henderson Avenue News

Dallas bar High Fives will close on Henderson Avenue after 10 years

High Fives/Facebook

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A nightlife staple on Dallas' Henderson Avenue is closing: High Fives, the bar located at 1804 McMillan Ave., will close in early January, after more than 10 years.

According to a release, the actual closing date will be tied to the Texas Tech Red Raiders' game schedule in January.

"To all our neighbors, the Red Raider faithful, and everyone who has made High Fives their home—we are saying goodbye by raising our hands high for one last High Five," says owner Phil Schanbaum. "This establishment was built on community, spirited rivalry, and countless memories. We are deeply thankful to every single patron and, especially, to all of our incredible staff who were the heart and soul of this place."

High Fives opened in mid-2015, part of the portfolio of This & That Hospitality, the company Schanbaum founded with partner Brandon Hays, next door to its sibling bar The Whippersnapper (which was rebranded into a concept called Boogies in October 2025.)

Schanbaum says that they're unsure of what will go in the High Fives space after it closes — but that the closure "paves the way for the ongoing evolution of Henderson Avenue."

The property is owned by Acadia Realty, the New York-based company that is partnered with Dallas development firm Ignite-Rebees on a 161,000-square-foot, creative, mixed-use development currently underway on Henderson Avenue between Glencoe Street and McMillan Avenue at the eastern end of Henderson Avenue.

High Fives' closure is part of that plan to transform the quarter-mile stretch into a walkable destination featuring restaurants, retail, and office space.

"To Henderson Avenue, we look forward to further expansion and to making this street even better. We are excited for the neighborhood's renaissance, which will bring new experiences, retail, and dining concepts to the area," Schanbaum says.

Moving target
The actual closing date will depend on the outcome of the season for Texas Tech's football team the Red Raiders.

"The final chapter for High Fives will be written alongside the almighty Texas Tech Red Raiders. The bar's ultimate closure is tied directly to the team's success," the release says.

The next game day is on January 1, when doors open at 10 am.

If the Red Raiders advance past the game on January 1, High Fives will remain open for subsequent Texas Tech game days until the team's run ends. Meanwhile hours in December will be Thursdays & Fridays from 8 pm-2 am, and Saturdays: from 2 pm– 2 am.