Aisha Kamaria Cole, famously known as Pinky Cole, has garnered a reputation as a visionary and provocateur. Her plant-based burger chain, Slutty Vegan, not only caters to vegans but also entices meat eaters to step outside of their culinary comfort zones. However, even someone as forward-thinking as Cole had her own boundaries when it came to relationships with individuals owning cheesesteak restaurants. But when she met Derrick Jermaine Hayes, the founder of Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks, in June 2020, her perspective changed.
During the summer of 2020, Atlanta, like many other major cities, experienced social unrest following the murder of George Floyd. Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks was not spared from the chaos, as its downtown location had its windows shattered. When Cole learned about the incident, she reached out to Hayes to offer her support, which he declined. However, their initial contact intrigued them both as owners of popular restaurants in Atlanta. They decided to meet and discover what they could learn from one another.
By this time, the name Pinky Cole and her vegan restaurant, Slutty Vegan, had gained significant recognition in Atlanta. Starting as a food truck in 2018, Slutty Vegan expanded to become a restaurant just outside Atlanta in 2019, offering creatively named burgers like “One Night Stand” and “Fussy Hussy.” The concept behind her restaurant evolved during her time as a TV producer, aiming to attract meat eaters through playful and provocative approaches to vegan food. The idea resonated with people, including investors, leading to partnerships with high-profile organizations.
Derrick Hayes, on the other hand, grew up in West Philadelphia with a troubled past. Instead of succumbing to the consequences of his actions, he received a second chance. Years later, after his father’s passing and a move to Atlanta in 2014, he opened a small restaurant named Big Dave’s as a tribute to his father. The restaurant has since grown to multiple locations in Georgia, with plans for further expansion.
Cole and Hayes first met at Café Sunflower, a vegan restaurant in Atlanta, shortly after Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks was vandalized. Over lunch, they discovered a commonality that drew them together. Both had recently ended previous relationships, and within weeks, they were a couple. Their relationship quickly intensified, culminating in moving in together and starting a family.
As they navigate the challenges of raising children and pursuing their professional goals, Cole and Hayes credit the support of their families for helping them manage their responsibilities. They officially got engaged in June 2022 and married shortly after in Atlanta, surrounded by loved ones.
The ceremony, officiated by Montell Jordan, was filled with heartfelt moments. Hayes expressed his love for Cole, vowing to build empires together. Cole, in her teary-eyed vows, promised to care for Hayes’s daughters as her own. They also shared the exciting news that they are expecting a son later in the year.
Aisha Kamaria Cole, or Pinky Cole, and Derrick Jermaine Hayes have proven that boundaries can be broken even in the unlikeliest of circumstances. Their love story is a testament to the power of connection and the pursuit of shared dreams, both personally and professionally.
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