Sarah Brown
Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers is an American pizza restaurant chain founded in 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia. The chain has since expanded to over 160 locations across 18 states, with each store being locally owned and operated. The restaurants specialize in stone-baked pizzas, calzones, hoagies, salads, and appetizers, with a wide selection of beer and gluten-free and vegan options. Mellow Mushroom is known for its trippy vibes, fresh ingredients, and psychedelic artwork, featuring colourful statues, mushroom clocks, and unique door handles. The chain has a cult-like following due to its coveted secret dough recipe and red sauce.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of establishment | 1974 |
| Founders | Two Georgia Tech students, later joined by a third from the University of Georgia |
| Headquarters | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Specialization | Pizza, calzones, hoagies, salads, appetizers, and beer |
| Locations | 160+ |
| States | 18-20 |
| Store ownership | Locally owned and operated |
| Decor | Psychedelic artwork, colorful statues, mushroom clocks, unique door handles |
| Activities | Live music, trivia competitions, karaoke, bingo |
| Sustainability | All-natural meats, preservative-free cheese, pizza boxes with a negative carbon footprint |
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What You'll Learn
History
Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers is an American pizza restaurant chain established in 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia, by three college students. Two of the founders, Nicholson and Reeves, were students at Georgia Tech, and the third was a student at the University of Georgia. The first Mellow Mushroom was opened on Spring Street in Atlanta and could fit only 19 people. The founders described themselves as "hippies making pizza" and focused on sustainability from the start, growing sprouts in the restaurants and using natural cardboard pizza boxes.
The original recipe, inspired by Nick DeVito of Chicago, was tweaked by co-founder Weinstein and is still used today. The dough, which is prepared at a commissary kitchen at the corporate headquarters, has garnered a cult-like following over the years. The menu features hand-tossed, stone-baked pizzas, calzones, hoagies, munchies, greens, sweets, and more, with plenty of gluten-free and vegan options. Each Mellow Mushroom location is locally owned and operated, with unique decor and a wide selection of beer. The artwork often features a unifying theme, with tie-dye and colourful mushrooms being a common sight.
In the late 1980s, the first franchise was opened by an employee, followed by customer-owned franchises. The first franchise outside of Atlanta was in Athens, Georgia, near the University of Georgia. By 2000, the franchise expanded outside of college markets to urban areas, and today, the chain has over 170 locations across more than 18 states, including Florida and Colorado.
Mellow Mushroom is known for its psychedelic art and fixtures, with colourful statues, mushroom clocks, and unique door handles sourced by Weinstein himself. The restaurant often features live music, trivia competitions, karaoke, or bingo, and has a cult following for its secret dough recipe, fresh ingredients, and trippy vibes.
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Locations
Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers is an American pizza restaurant chain that was established in 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia. The first restaurant was opened on Spring Street in Atlanta, with room for around 19 people. The founders were a group of hippies who grew sprouts in the restaurants and used natural cardboard pizza boxes. Over the years, Mellow Mushroom has expanded to over 160 locations across 18 to 20 states, with each store being locally owned, operated, and decorated differently.
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, with locations in Jacksonville, Florida, and Denver, Colorado.
Each Mellow Mushroom restaurant has a unique feel, with trippy vibes, psychedelic artwork, colourful statues, mushroom clocks, and unique door handles. Some locations occasionally feature live music, trivia competitions, karaoke, or bingo.
In 2024, Mellow Mushroom opened a new prototype store near the Atlanta Zoo in Grant Park, returning to its roots with a smaller footprint and a condensed menu. The company currently has three corporate-owned stores, with plans to open more locations as opportunities arise.
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Menu
Mellow Mushroom, founded in 1974, is an American pizza restaurant chain that began in Atlanta, Georgia. Each of the 160+ locations across 18 states is independently owned and operated, with a unique feel and decor. The restaurants specialize in pizza, including small, medium, and large options with four, six, or eight slices, respectively, and the option for gluten-free crust. They also offer calzones, hoagies, salads, appetizers, and desserts.
The pizza dough and red sauce are made using a secret recipe that has gained a cult-like following. The menu includes a range of toppings, such as grilled shaved ribeye steak, mushrooms, onions, green peppers, ricotta, mozzarella, and provolone. In addition to pizza, Mellow Mushroom serves calzones and hoagies.
For those looking for a lighter option, Mellow Mushroom offers salads and appetizers like pretzel bites, spinach artichoke dip with garlic toast points, and diced tomatoes with basil, feta cheese, and balsamic glaze, also served on garlic toast points. The signature Mellow dough is a popular choice, served with a side of Pabst Blue Ribbon beer cheese dip for a unique, shareable appetizer.
The dessert menu features massive house-baked gourmet cookies in triple chocolate chunk, oatmeal raisin, and peanut butter with Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. For brownie lovers, there is a buttery chocolate brownie studded with Hershey's Kisses and various chocolate chunks.
Mellow Mushroom also has a wide selection of beverages, including specialty cocktails and mocktails, wines, and local beers, with 20-40 beers typically on draft and over 50 bottled options.
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Sustainability
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 United States, with each store being locally owned and operated, offering a unique feel and decor.
The company's approach to sustainability is closely tied to its emphasis on fresh, high-quality ingredients. Mellow Mushroom has gained a cult-like following for its secret dough recipe and red sauce, which have remained largely unchanged since the company's early days. The chain also offers a wide range of vegan and gluten-free options, ensuring that its menu is accessible and appealing to a diverse range of customers.
In addition to its focus on fresh ingredients and sustainable packaging, Mellow Mushroom also prioritises sustainability in its decor and artwork. The chain is known for its psychedelic art and fixtures, with each location featuring unique artwork and decor. Franchisees can select items from a 75,000-square-foot warehouse, free of charge, to create a distinct atmosphere in their restaurants. This approach not only fosters a sense of individuality among locations but also reduces waste by reusing and repurposing decor items.
As Mellow Mushroom continues to expand, it remains committed to its sustainable practices. The company's organic growth strategy, which involves opening new locations as opportunities arise, has allowed it to gradually build its presence while maintaining its core values. As the chain expands beyond college markets into urban areas, it continues to prioritise fresh ingredients, sustainable packaging, and unique, environmentally conscious decor.
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Decor
Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers is an American pizza restaurant chain, founded in 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia. The restaurant is known for its trippy vibes, fresh ingredients, and psychedelic artwork. Each Mellow Mushroom location is independently owned and operated, with a unique feel and decor.
The decor of Mellow Mushroom restaurants is an essential part of the brand's identity and has played a significant role in its success. The visual identity of Mellow Mushroom was defined during the early franchising phase by Atlanta artist Buddy Finethy. The decor is often described as "trippy," with colourful mushrooms and tie-dye being a common theme across locations. The artwork is designed to create a fun and playful atmosphere, reflecting the brand's light-hearted and communal spirit.
The psychedelic art and fixtures extend beyond just wall art. Each location features unique and quirky decor items, such as colourful statues, mushroom clocks, and distinctive door handles. These items are carefully selected by the founders, who source many of these pieces themselves. The decor is meant to evoke a sense of whimsy and curiosity, creating an experience that goes beyond just dining.
While each Mellow Mushroom location has its own unique twist, there is sometimes a unifying theme across the artwork. The use of bright colours and playful designs creates a cohesive visual identity for the brand, even as each restaurant expresses its individuality. The decor also reflects the brand's commitment to sustainability, with natural materials and an emphasis on reducing environmental harm.
The Mellow Mushroom in Midtown Atlanta, for example, reflects the brand's quirky aesthetic. With colourful murals covering the walls and a vibrant, eclectic mix of furniture, the space embodies the brand's fun and playful spirit. The use of bright colours and unique artwork creates a vibrant atmosphere that has become synonymous with the Mellow Mushroom experience.
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Frequently asked questions
Mellow Mushroom is an American pizza restaurant chain that was established in 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia. It is known for its stone-baked pizzas, calzones, hoagies, salads, vegan and gluten-free options, and wide selection of beer. Each location is locally owned and operated, with unique decor and a psychedelic vibe.
Mellow Mushroom was founded in 1974 by a group of hippies, including a University of Georgia student named Weinstein and two Georgia Tech students, Nicholson and Reeves. They started with a small pizzeria in Sandy Springs and another on 14th and Spring in Midtown. Over the years, they expanded to six locations in the Atlanta area before facing staffing challenges due to the lack of cell phones at the time. The chain continued to grow, and today it has over 160 locations across 18 states, with each franchise still locally owned and operated.
Mellow Mushroom restaurants are known for their unique, psychedelic decor, often featuring colourful mushrooms and tie-dye themes. Some locations offer entertainment such as live music, trivia competitions, karaoke, or bingo. The chain has a focus on sustainability, using all-natural meats, preservative-free cheese, and pizza boxes with a negative carbon footprint. Mellow Mushroom has a cult-like following due to its secret dough recipe and red sauce, as well as its fun specialty cocktails, mocktails, and local beers.
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