Michael Davis
Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers is an American pizza chain that was established in 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia. The chain has since expanded to over 160 locations across the United States, with a strong presence in its home state of Georgia. Each Mellow Mushroom store is locally owned and operated, offering a unique dining experience with a focus on high-quality ingredients, psychedelic artwork, and a wide selection of beer. As the chain continues to grow, customers can expect to find their beloved Mellow Mushroom in new urban areas outside of college markets.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of establishment | 1974 |
| Place of establishment | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Founders | Marc "Banks" Weinstein, Nicholson, and Reeves |
| Type of cuisine | Pizza, calzones, hoagies, salads, appetizers, and beer |
| Number of locations | 160+ or 170+ |
| Number of states | 18 or 20 |
| Number of corporate-owned stores | 3 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Mellow Mushroom has over 160 locations across the US
Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers is an American pizza restaurant chain that was established in 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia. The chain has since expanded to over 160 locations across the US. Each store is locally owned, operated, and decorated, often featuring psychedelic art and unique fixtures, such as colourful statues and mushroom-themed decor.
The first Mellow Mushroom was opened by two college students from Georgia Tech, who were later joined by a third founder from the University of Georgia. The original location was known for its hippie mentality and vibe, attracting creative people and building a community around its pizza. Over the years, Mellow Mushroom has garnered a cult-like following for its high-quality, fresh ingredients, and passion for dining and music.
The menu features hand-tossed, stone-baked pizzas, calzones, hoagies, munchies, salads, appetizers, and desserts, with gluten-free and vegan options. Each Mellow Mushroom location also offers a wide selection of beverages, including local beers, wines, and specialty cocktails and mocktails, such as their Liquid Karma drinks.
Mellow Mushroom has continued to expand across the US, with locations in 18 to 20 states, including Georgia, Florida, and Colorado. The chain has also opened new prototype stores, such as the one near the Atlanta Zoo in Grant Park, which features a smaller footprint and condensed menu offerings, including their unique "panizzi" sandwich made with folded pizza dough.
Best Places to Buy Lobster Mushrooms
You may want to see also
The chain has expanded to 20 states
Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers is an American pizza restaurant chain that was established in 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia. The chain has expanded to 20 states across the country, with over 200 locations. Each store is locally owned, operated, and decorated differently, often with a unifying theme—tie-dye and colourful mushrooms are common.
The first franchise outside of Atlanta was in Athens, Georgia, and there are several dozen locations operating in Georgia today. In 2000, the franchise expanded outside of college markets to urban areas, including Jacksonville, Florida, and Denver, Colorado.
The Mellow Mushroom chain is known for its hippie mentality and counterculture essence, with each restaurant featuring psychedelic art and fixtures. The chain's mascot, Mel O. Mushroom, was created by Atlanta artist Buddy Finethy during the early franchising phase.
Mellow Mushroom restaurants specialise in pizza but also serve calzones, hoagies, salads, appetizers, and a wide beer selection. Each location offers a local twist on the Mellow Mushroom experience, with fresh, high-quality ingredients. The chain has garnered a cult-like following over the years, with fans attracted to its trippy vibes and passionate standards for dining.
Understanding Mushroom Biology: Why Some Mushrooms Bruise Blue
You may want to see also
There are several dozen locations in Georgia
Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers is an American pizza restaurant chain that was established in 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia. The first franchise outside of Atlanta was in Athens, Georgia, and there are now several dozen locations in Georgia and over 160 locations across the United States. Each store is locally owned, operated, and decorated differently, with a unifying theme of tie-dye and colourful mushrooms.
The original Mellow Mushroom was founded by two college students from Georgia Tech, who were later joined by a third founder from the University of Georgia. The founders described themselves as ["hippies making pizza"], and the restaurant has maintained its “hippie” mentality and counterculture essence. The pizza chain is known for its trippy vibes, psychedelic art and fixtures, and colourful statues and mushroom clocks.
The Mellow Mushroom menu features hand-tossed, stone-baked pizzas, calzones, hoagies, munchies, greens, sweets, and gluten-free and vegan options. Each location has a wide selection of beer, typically 20-40 beers on tap and 50 or more bottled. Some restaurants also feature live music, trivia competitions, karaoke, or bingo.
Mellow Mushroom has expanded beyond its original college market to urban areas such as Jacksonville, Florida, and Denver, Colorado. The company has also opened new prototype stores with a smaller footprint and condensed menu offerings, including a location near the Atlanta Zoo in Grant Park.
Mushroom Blocks: Do They Generate Mushrooms?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Three corporate-owned stores exist
Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers is an American pizza chain founded in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1974. The chain has since expanded to over 200 locations across 20 states in the US, with three corporate-owned stores. Each Mellow Mushroom store is locally owned and operated, with a unique decor style that often includes tie-dye and colourful mushrooms. The chain has a cult-like following and is known for its trippy vibes, high-quality ingredients, and psychedelic artwork.
The three corporate-owned stores of Mellow Mushroom stand out among the over 160 to 200 franchise locations spread across the country. These corporate stores are directly managed and funded by the Mellow Mushroom headquarters, ensuring consistency with the brand's values and offerings. The corporate ownership model allows for tighter control over operations and provides a platform to test new menu items and store designs.
One key advantage of corporate-owned stores is the ability to maintain strict quality control over the product and customer experience. Mellow Mushroom is renowned for its secret dough recipe and red sauce, and by owning and operating select stores, the company can closely monitor the consistency of their signature offerings. This ensures that customers receive the same high-quality pizza across all locations, maintaining the brand's reputation.
Additionally, the corporate-owned stores serve as innovation hubs for Mellow Mushroom. The company can experiment with new menu items and limited-time specials, gauging customer feedback and refining recipes before rolling them out to the wider franchise network. This approach allows Mellow Mushroom to stay dynamic and responsive to market trends while minimising risk.
The decor and atmosphere of the corporate-owned Mellow Mushroom stores are also noteworthy. Each Mellow Mushroom location is known for its unique artwork and decor, often featuring psychedelic themes. The corporate stores take this a step further, showcasing the brand's iconic art and fixtures in a way that reinforces the Mellow Mushroom experience. From colourful statues to mushroom clocks and unique door handles, these stores provide a truly immersive experience that reflects the hippie roots of the brand.
Mushroom Extract: Nature's Superfood Powerhouse
You may want to see also
The first Mellow Mushroom opened in Atlanta, Georgia
The first Mellow Mushroom pizza restaurant opened in 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia. The original location was on 14th and Spring in Midtown, Atlanta. The chain was founded by three college students, two from Georgia Tech and one from the University of Georgia. The students, including Marc "Banks" Weinstein, joined forces to open a pizzeria with a hippie mentality.
Weinstein had studied business marketing and originally intended to pursue a career in real estate. However, a recession caused him to change his plans. He learned to make pizza while working in local restaurants and secured a small space in Sandy Springs for a pie shop. At the same time, he met the other co-founders, Nicholson and Reeves, who were also opening a pizza place on 14th and Spring in Midtown. Together, they built Mellow Mushroom, tweaking a recipe inspired by Nick DeVito of Chicago that is still used today.
The restaurant specialized in stone-baked pizzas but also served other items such as calzones, hoagies, salads, appetizers, and beer. Each Mellow Mushroom location is locally owned and operated, with unique decor featuring psychedelic art and fixtures. The chain is known for its cult-like following, counterculture essence, and trippy vibes.
Since its founding, Mellow Mushroom has expanded significantly. As of 2024, there were over 160 locations across at least 18 states, with plans to open more. The chain has also expanded its menu, offering gluten-free and vegan options, specialty cocktails and mocktails, and a wide range of beers. Mellow Mushroom continues to embrace its roots, with a focus on high-quality ingredients, passionate standards for dining, and a blend of art and music in its locations.
Mushroom Harvesting: Timing for the Best Results
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
As of 2024, there are over 160 Mellow Mushroom locations across the United States.
There are three corporate-owned Mellow Mushroom stores.
Mellow Mushroom has locations in at least 18 to 20 states across the US.
There are several dozen Mellow Mushroom locations in Atlanta, Georgia, where the chain was founded.
