Correa’s transition from general manager to owner marks a shift in the company’s national growth strategy. By handing over the keys to a proven leader, the brand aims to establish a model for sustainable expansion that rewards long-term employee commitment. The Fulton Street site, which served as a flagship under Correa’s oversight, will now operate under her direct ownership as the company pursues aggressive growth in markets including Detroit, Washington, D.C., and Atlanta.

For Pinky Cole Hayes, the decision serves as a proof-of-concept for her broader mission of economic empowerment. Since launching the concept as a food truck in 2018, Hayes has scaled the business into a national force, recently bolstered by her presence on Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Atlanta. The brand’s pivot toward franchising seeks to leverage experienced operators to maintain the high-energy, community-focused reputation that propelled the chain from a local phenomenon to a cultural staple.