Michael Davis
Mellow Mushroom is a pizza restaurant chain that was established in 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia. It has since expanded to 170 locations across the United States. The chain was founded by a group of college students and is known for its hippie-themed decor, unique pizza combinations, and trippy murals. The restaurant's drink names, psychedelic wall art, and mushroom mascot create a vague impression that plays on drug culture. However, the restaurant is a family-friendly franchise. Mellow Mushroom has a wide selection of beers, typically offering 20-40 beers on draft and 50 or more bottled options. The chain has a loyal following among stoners, who appreciate its laid-back atmosphere and creative pizza options.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Stoner-friendly | Yes |
| Stoner-owned | Yes |
| Pizza | Unique combinations, exotic toppings, specialty pizzas |
| Decor | Psychedelic, trippy, hippie-themed, tie-dye, murals of 60s music artists |
| Drinks | Beer, cocktails, two-for-one specials, happy hour |
| Locations | Atlanta, Georgia, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Charlottesville, Wilmington, Orlando, Delray, Denton, Texas, Arlington, Austin, Denver, Tampa Bay |
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What You'll Learn
Mellow Mushroom's stoner-friendly marketing
Mellow Mushroom is a pizza restaurant chain that was established in 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia. It is a family-grown franchise with over 170 locations across the United States. The chain specializes in pizza but also offers calzones, hoagies, salads, appetizers, and a wide selection of beer. The restaurant has a hippie theme with trippy decorations, including psychedelic wall murals featuring sixties music artists such as Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, and John Lennon. The chain's mascot, Mel O. Mushroom, was created by Atlanta artist Buddy Finethy.
Mellow Mushroom has been described as a "stoner pizza stop" due to its unique pizza combinations, trippy decorations, and drink names that create a vague impression of psychedelic effects. The restaurant's drink specials, such as the "Michael Phelps" and the "Grateful Dead" cocktail, contribute to its stoner-friendly reputation. The chain's progressive philosophies and sense of awesomeness translate into their business sense, making it a popular destination for those seeking a chill and entertaining dining experience.
The main attraction at Mellow Mushroom is, of course, their pizza. They offer a wide range of exotic toppings and specialty pizzas with wacky names like the White Rabbit and the Philosopher's Pie. The chain allows its locally owned and operated locations to take on their own forms and styles, resulting in a unique atmosphere and menu offerings at each store. This sense of individuality and progressive thinking aligns with the lifestyle and values often associated with stoner culture.
Mellow Mushroom's marketing strategy seems to subtly cater to stoners through its psychedelic aesthetics, playful drug references, and unique pizza combinations. The chain's ability to provide a chill and entertaining experience, along with its reputation for being stoner-friendly, has likely contributed to its popularity among this demographic. While the restaurant does not explicitly promote the use of cannabis, its indirect association with stoner culture has become a key aspect of its brand identity.
In conclusion, Mellow Mushroom's stoner-friendly marketing is a clever and subtle approach to attracting a specific demographic. By creating an atmosphere and menu that align with the interests and values of stoner culture, the chain has successfully tapped into a loyal customer base that appreciates its unique offerings. This strategy has likely contributed to the chain's success and cult-like following, solidifying its place as a go-to destination for stoners seeking good pizza and a chill vibe.
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The chain's history and locations
Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers is an American pizza restaurant chain established in 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia, as a single pizzeria. It is a franchise under the banner of Home Grown Industries, Inc. of Georgia, with 170 locations across the United States, primarily in the Southeast. Each store is locally owned, operated, and decorated differently, with a unifying theme to the artwork. Tie-dye and colourful mushrooms are a common theme for locations.
The first franchise outside of Atlanta was in Athens, Georgia, near the University of Georgia. There are several dozen locations operating in Atlanta and elsewhere in Georgia. In 2000, the franchise expanded outside of college markets to urban areas, including Jacksonville, Florida, and Denver, Colorado. Today, the chain has over 200 locations across 20 states.
The visual identity of Mellow Mushroom was defined during the early franchising phase by Atlanta artist Buddy Finethy, who created and refined the chain's mascot, Mel O. Mushroom, and a supporting cast of animated characters.
Mellow Mushroom's drink names, psychedelic wall murals, and sassy mushroom mascot all create a vague impression that their pizzas may have psychedelic effects. However, this is just marketing, and the restaurant is a family-grown Southern franchise.
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Pizza and other food options
Mellow Mushroom is a pizza restaurant chain that was established in 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia. It is a family-grown franchise with over 170 locations across the United States. Each store is locally owned, operated, and decorated differently, with trippy and psychedelic wall murals featuring sixties music artists like Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, and John Lennon. The chain's mascot, Mel O. Mushroom, further adds to its quirky branding.
The restaurant's unique selling point is its pizza, with a range of exotic toppings and specialty pies. Their pizzas have creative names like the White Rabbit, with an oil and garlic base, sundried tomatoes, spinach, mushrooms, artichoke hearts, and feta cheese. Another option is the Philosopher's Pie, which includes a variety of cheeses, artichoke hearts, and kalamata olives on an oil and garlic base. For those seeking a meat option, there's The Kush, featuring jerk meatballs, mozzarella, bacon, banana peppers, and pineapple on a buttered and salted crust.
In addition to pizza, Mellow Mushroom offers calzones, hoagies, salads, and appetizers like pretzel bites. They also have a wide selection of drinks, including beer, cocktails, and wine. Their drink specials are particularly popular, with unique offerings like the Grateful Dead cocktail and the Michael Phelps, made with Jeremiah Weed Sweet Tea, water, vodka, and sours.
Mellow Mushroom's late-night happy hour runs from 10:30 p.m. to 2 a.m., Sunday through Thursday, offering discounts on drinks and $2.50 pizza slices. On Wednesdays, they host live trivia alongside $10 "buckets" of beer.
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Drink specials
Mellow Mushroom may be known for its pizzas, but its drink specials are also noteworthy. On Wednesdays, the pizzeria offers live trivia and $10 "buckets" of Coors, containing five bottles of beer. While this may not be considered a deal by some, as Coors bottles are already on special for $2 each, it could be a fun option for those seeking a unique drinking experience.
For those seeking a more potent potable, Mellow Mushroom also offers a range of creative cocktails. One notable mention is the tie-dyed-Razzmatazz-Blue Curacao-Long-Island-on-Acid Grateful Dead cocktail, a visually appealing concoction priced at $7. However, some may find the taste underwhelming.
The pizzeria also has daily specials, including the popular Tuesday S.I.N. (Service Industry Night) special, offering two-for-one house margaritas, Tuaca and Jager shots, $2 tall PBR's, and $3 Three Olive cocktails. Additionally, patrons can enjoy $3 Bloody Marys and mimosas on Sundays, alongside a breakfast pizza topped with scrambled eggs and cheese.
Mellow Mushroom also appears to have previously offered draft beer specials when it rained, and some patrons have mentioned a beer club where members could get an engraved 20 oz mug filled for the pint price. These specials may no longer be available, but they showcase Mellow Mushroom's creative approach to drink promotions.
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Stoner reviews
"I was tempted by the sweet allure of lunchtime pizza at Mellow Mushroom, but I was more impressed by the drink specials than the pizzas. I skipped the Shroom Tea and went for the tie-dyed-Razzmatazz-Blue Curacao-Long-Island-on-Acid Grateful Dead cocktail. She was lovely to look at, but not so lovely to taste. The daily drink specials are a better option, like Tuesday's S.I.N. special (Service Industry Night, or perhaps Sloppy Intoxicated Nudes, Slurpy Intercourse Now, or Super Inebriated Nuesday, depending on who you ask). You can get two-for-one house margaritas, along with Tuaca and Jager shots, tall PBR's for $2, and Three Olive cocktails for $3."
"Mellow Mushroom's late-night happy hour is great, running from 10:30 p.m. to 2 a.m., Sunday through Thursday. You can get $1 house wines, $2 Miller Lites, $3 wells, and $2.50 pizza slices. On Wednesday nights, they have live trivia and $10 "buckets" of Coors, but the bottles are already $2 each so it's not really a deal."
"I went to Mellow Mushroom, tempted by the promise of pizza and a vague impression that their pies may send me on a trip. The drug references in the decor are a bit much, but one cocktail on the menu got a giggle—the "Michael Phelps," mixed with Jeremiah Weed Sweet Tea, water, vodka, and sours. A bit of an outdated 2008 Olympics reference, but funny nonetheless."
"Mellow Mushroom is a hippie-themed pizzeria chain opened by a couple of stoners, with unique pizza combinations and trippy-as-hell decorations. There are giant murals featuring '60s music artists like Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, and John Lennon. The first Mellow Mushroom opened in Atlanta, Georgia, and as they grew, they allowed their locally owned and operated locations to take on their own forms and styles. The pizza is the main attraction—you can get exotic toppings, or one of their many specialty pizzas with wacky names like The White Rabbit (oil and garlic base, sundried tomatoes, spinach, mozzarella, mushrooms, artichoke hearts, and feta cheese). The Philosopher's Pie is another good option, with steak, portobello mushroom cap, artichoke hearts, kalamata olives, and a mix of provolone, feta, and mozzarella cheeses on an oil and garlic base."
"The pizza at Mellow Mushroom is deliciously unique. I had one with pesto, mozzarella, button and portobello mushrooms, spinach, jalapeños, and feta cheese. The jalapeños and feta are major players in the taste department, and the pesto base provides a wholly different pizza experience. The cheese is quality, and the crust is perfect and chewy at the ends. It's truly magical and mysterious. Each location has its own spin on the atmosphere, so you're sure to be satisfied with the delicious pizza and the hilariously entertaining staff. They're definitely on something."
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Frequently asked questions
Mellow Mushroom is an American pizza restaurant chain that was established in 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia. It was founded by two college students from Georgia Tech, who were later joined by a third from the University of Georgia. The chain has 170 locations across the United States.
Mellow Mushroom has been described as the "ultimate stoner pizza stop". The chain has a hippie theme with trippy decorations, including psychedelic wall murals, and was founded by a group of stoners. The restaurant's drink names, wall murals, and mushroom mascot create a vague impression that their pizzas may be infused with drugs. However, this is just a marketing strategy.
Mellow Mushroom specializes in pizza but also serves calzones, hoagies, salads, and appetizers. They offer a wide range of exotic toppings and specialty pizzas with wacky names such as The White Rabbit and The Philosopher's Pie.
Mellow Mushroom has a large selection of drinks, including beer, cocktails, and wine. They offer daily drink specials such as two-for-one house margaritas and $1 house wines.
