Key points:
- Historic Black-owned vegan restaurant The New Soul Veg will close after service on July 12.
- Originally known as Soul Vegetarian #1, the restaurant opened Downtown in 1979 and relocated to the West End in the early 1980s.
- Management credits the building’s “aging infrastructure” as the reason behind the closure.
The New Soul Veg Restaurant & Café on Ralph David Abernathy Blvd., formerly known as Soul Vegetarian #1, will cease operations after service on July 12.
In addition to its legacy as one of the best plant-based restaurants in the state, The New Soul Veg is an important component of the West End and paved the way for more plant-based enterprises in the neighborhood.
African Hebrew Israelite Nation of Jerusalem members originally opened the restaurant as Soul Vegetarian at 625 Peachtree Street in 1979. The restaurant closed and moved to the West End in 1982.
Soul Vegetarian later opened a second Atlanta location at 652 N. Highland Ave. NE. The restaurant expanded to Chicago in the early 1980s and still operates multiple locations.
Related: Atlanta’s thriving vegan food scene got its start in the Black communities of West End
After a temporary closure, The New Soul Veg reopened under its current name and new management in early 2025. The restaurant has not shared plans to reopen elsewhere. The Highland Ave. location will remain open.
“After much consideration, we have made the difficult decision to close the doors of Soul Veg,” a social media post by the restaurant reads. “This decision was driven in large part by the building’s aging infrastructure, which has made it increasingly difficult to provide the high level of service our community deserves. We are deeply grateful for the love and support our customers, friends, and supporters have shown us. Serving you has been an honor, and we thank everyone who has been part of this journey.”
The New Soul Veg will host a grand closing event on July 12 from noon to 7 p.m.
879 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd. SW
