Sarah Brown
Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers is an American pizza restaurant chain with locations across the United States. The first Mellow Mushroom opened in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1974, and the company has since expanded to include over 159 locations across more than 20 states. The state with the most Mellow Mushroom locations is Georgia, with 43 restaurants, followed by various other states including Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of locations in the US | 159 as of April 25, 2024; another source states 170 |
| State with the most locations | Georgia (43 locations, which is 27% of all locations in the US) |
| States with locations | Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia |
| Headquarters | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Year founded | 1974 |
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What You'll Learn
Georgia has the most locations
Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers is an American pizza restaurant chain that was established in 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia. The chain has since expanded to around 159-170 locations across the United States, with the majority of these locations being in Georgia. In fact, as of April 2024, there were 43 Mellow Mushroom locations in Georgia alone, accounting for 27% of all Mellow Mushroom locations in the country.
The first Mellow Mushroom restaurant was opened in Atlanta, Georgia, by two college students from Georgia Tech, who were later joined by a third partner from the University of Georgia. The chain's early expansion focused on college markets, and the first franchise outside of Atlanta was opened in Athens, Georgia, near the University of Georgia. Several dozen locations are still operating in Atlanta and elsewhere in Georgia today.
The Mellow Mushroom chain is known for its unique atmosphere and decor, with each store being locally owned, operated, and decorated. Tie-dye and colourful mushrooms are a common theme across locations. The restaurants specialize in pizza but also offer a variety of other menu items, including calzones, hoagies, salads, and appetizers like pretzel bites. They also typically feature a large selection of beer, with 20-40 beers on draft and 50 or more bottled options.
Beginning in 2000, Mellow Mushroom began expanding outside of college markets into urban areas, with locations in states such as Florida, Colorado, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Virginia, Texas, Kentucky, Ohio, Arizona, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, and New Jersey. Despite this expansion, Georgia remains the state with the most Mellow Mushroom locations, reflecting the chain's roots and continued popularity in the state.
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Mellow Mushroom's history
Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers is an American pizza restaurant chain that was established in 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia, by three college students with a passion for pizza. The company operates as a franchise under the banner of Home Grown Industries, Inc. of Georgia, with around 159 to 170 locations throughout the United States, primarily in the Southeast. Its headquarters are in Atlanta, where the first Mellow Mushroom pizzeria opened.
The idea for Mellow Mushroom was conceived by Marc "Banks" Weinstein, Mike Nicholson, and Rocky Reeves, who were college students at Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia. The trio launched Mellow Mushroom with a concise menu of five pizzas, four hoagies, a chef's salad, and beer. Sustainability and natural ingredients were a focus from the start, with the founders growing sprouts in the restaurants and using natural cardboard pizza boxes to reduce their environmental impact. The original Mellow Mushroom locations included stores in Buckhead, Midtown, Sandy Springs, Avondale Estates, on Buford Highway, and near Emory.
The visual identity of Mellow Mushroom was defined during the early franchising phase by Atlanta artist Buddy Finethy, who created the chain's mascot, Mel O. Mushroom, and a supporting cast of animated characters. Each Mellow Mushroom store is locally owned, operated, and decorated differently, often featuring colourful mushrooms and tie-dye themes. Some restaurants also offer entertainment such as live music, trivia competitions, karaoke, or bingo.
Today, there are three corporate-owned Mellow Mushroom stores, and the company continues to expand, offering franchisees a selection of decor and artwork to choose from for their locations. Mellow Mushroom is known for its unique, psychedelic art and fixtures, colourful statues, mushroom clocks, and distinctive door handles, many of which are sourced by Weinstein himself. The company has maintained its focus on sustainability, with all-natural meats, preservative-free cheese, and pizza boxes with a negative carbon footprint.
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States with multiple locations
Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers is an American pizza restaurant chain that was established in 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia. Each store is locally owned, operated, and decorated differently, often featuring a unifying theme with tie-dye and colourful mushrooms. The restaurant has an extensive beer selection, with 20-40 beers on tap and over 50 bottled beers.
As of April 2024, there were 159 Mellow Mushroom locations across the United States, with the majority found in Georgia (43 locations). This accounts for 27% of all Mellow Mushroom restaurants in the country.
Several other states host multiple Mellow Mushroom restaurants. Florida, for example, is home to locations in Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Tampa, and Wellington. Mellow Mushroom has also established a presence in Arizona, with restaurants in Tempe and likely other locations. Alabama is another state with multiple outlets, including one in Tuscaloosa.
Additionally, North Carolina, with locations in Wake Forest and other areas, and South Carolina, with a restaurant in Summerville, are both states with multiple Mellow Mushroom spots.
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States with a single location
Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers is an American pizza restaurant chain that was established in 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia. The chain has since expanded to various states across the country, with a presence in over 20 states as of 2024. While some states, like Georgia, have multiple locations, there are several states that are home to just a single Mellow Mushroom restaurant.
One such state with a solitary Mellow Mushroom is Arizona, with a location in the city of Tempe. Arizona's lone Mellow Mushroom outpost has received positive reviews, earning a rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars.
Missouri is another state with a single Mellow Mushroom location, specifically in Sunset Hills. The Missouri location has received more mixed reviews, with a rating of 3.0 out of 5 stars.
Nebraska stands out as a state with only one Mellow Mushroom, and it has garnered impressive reviews, achieving a rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars. Although this location has received less attention in terms of reviews, it appears to be a well-liked outpost in the Cornhusker State.
Toms River, New Jersey, is home to the state's sole Mellow Mushroom restaurant. With a rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars, the New Jersey location seems to be a popular choice among diners in the Garden State.
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States without a Mellow Mushroom
As of April 2024, there are 159 Mellow Mushroom locations in the United States, with the pizza chain present in 20 states. However, that means there are 30 states without a Mellow Mushroom pizza restaurant.
The states that do have a Mellow Mushroom include Georgia, which has the most, with 43 locations. The first Mellow Mushroom opened in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1974, and the state has remained the chain's stronghold. Other states with Mellow Mushroom locations include Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Virginia.
The Mellow Mushroom chain expanded outside of Georgia in 2000, moving into college markets and urban areas. With over 200 locations now, it is likely that Mellow Mushroom will continue to expand into new states.
However, as of yet, there are still 30 states without a Mellow Mushroom. These states are likely a mix of those with other popular pizza chains or those with smaller populations and less demand for a pizza franchise. It is also worth noting that Mellow Mushroom locations are independently owned and operated, so the absence of a Mellow Mushroom in a particular state may be due to a lack of interest from potential franchisees.
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Frequently asked questions
Mellow Mushroom has locations in 20 states across the USA.
Georgia has the most Mellow Mushroom locations, with 43 restaurants in the state as of April 25, 2024.
Some other states with Mellow Mushroom locations include Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Virginia, and Tennessee.
As of 2024, there are over 159 Mellow Mushroom locations in the US, with some sources citing up to 170 or 200 locations.
