Emily Johnson
Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers, commonly known as Mellow Mushroom, is an American pizza restaurant chain. The company was established in 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia, by three college students from Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia. The first Mellow Mushroom location was near Georgia Tech's campus on Spring Street. The company now operates as a franchise under the banner of Home Grown Industries, Inc. of Georgia, with over 100 locations across the United States.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of establishment | 1974 |
| Founder(s) | Three college students |
| Location | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Number of locations | 160+ |
| Headquarters | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Speciality | Pizza, calzones, hoagies, salads, appetizers, beer |
| Decor | Psychedelic art, colourful statues, mushroom clocks, unique door handles |
| Mascot | Mel O. Mushroom |
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What You'll Learn
Mellow Mushroom was established in 1974
Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers, the American pizza restaurant chain, was established in 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia. It was founded by three college students—two from Georgia Tech and one from the University of Georgia—who shared a passion for pizza. The first Mellow Mushroom location was near Georgia Tech's campus on Spring Street.
The founders were short on funds, so they got creative with the restaurant's design and functionality. They relied on friends and customers to help decorate the stores, often trading pizza for artwork. The original Mellow Mushroom had a hand-drawn menu, and none of the furniture matched. The founders' lack of money was compensated by their entrepreneurial spirit and a dedicated customer base in Atlanta.
The Mellow Mushroom menu initially included five pizzas, four hoagies, a chef salad, and beer. The chain is known for its stone-baked pizzas, calzones, hoagies, salads, appetizers, and wide beer selection. Each store is locally owned and operated, with unique artwork and design elements inspired by the surrounding area.
Over the years, Mellow Mushroom has expanded to over 100 locations across the United States, with a presence in at least 18 states. The chain is known for its trippy vibes, high-quality ingredients, and psychedelic artwork. In 2024, Mellow Mushroom celebrated its 50th anniversary with unique menu items, funky art, and special Pint Nights. The brand also underwent a significant refresh, including a new logo, website, and restaurant designs.
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The first location was near Georgia Tech
Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers, an American pizza restaurant chain, was established in 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia. The first location was near Georgia Tech, on Spring Street. The building no longer exists, but the ideals and aesthetics that Mellow Mushroom established there still apply to the brand today.
The company was founded by three college students—two from Georgia Tech and one from the University of Georgia—with a passion for pizza. They were hippies making pizza, growing sprouts in the restaurants, and using natural cardboard pizza boxes to avoid harming the environment. The founders had little money, so they relied on friends and customers to help with the design and decoration of the store, often trading pizza for artwork.
The original Mellow Mushroom had a concise menu of five pizzas, four hoagies, a chef salad, and beer. The dough recipe, which is still used today, was inspired by Nick DeVito of Chicago. The restaurant was small, with limited tables and mismatched furniture purchased second-hand.
The first Mellow Mushroom location set the tone for the brand's artistic ties and counterculture essence, with its unique artwork and design elements. Each Mellow Mushroom location today is locally owned and operated, with a one-of-a-kind experience rooted in psychedelic-inspired design, fresh ingredients, and a focus on music and art.
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It was founded by three college students
Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers, an American pizza restaurant chain, was established in 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia, by three college students. The first Mellow Mushroom restaurant was located near Georgia Tech's campus on Spring Street. The three founders were Marc "Banks" Weinstein, Mike Nicholson, and Rocky Reeves, who were college-aged guys with a passion for pizza. They were hippies who grew sprouts in the restaurants and used natural cardboard pizza boxes to avoid harming the environment.
The founders of Mellow Mushroom lacked funds, so they had to get creative with the design elements of the restaurant and how it functioned. They relied on friends and customers to decorate the stores, often trading pizza for artwork. They also purchased used equipment and had mismatched furniture. Their friends designed the menu, logo, and mural on the wall.
The original Mellow Mushroom menu was concise, offering five pizzas, four hoagies, a chef salad, and beer. The chain's mascot, Mel O. Mushroom, and the supporting cast of animated characters, were created by Atlanta artist Buddy Finethy. The character of Mel has undergone many transformations but has retained his happy expression and whimsical, fun, and funky aesthetics.
Over the years, Mellow Mushroom has expanded to over 100 locations across 18 to 19 states, with each restaurant featuring unique artwork. The company has stayed true to its vision of serving fresh, high-quality, stone-baked pizzas and providing a one-of-a-kind experience rooted in psychedelic-inspired design and delicious food and beverages.
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The chain has a cult-like following
Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers, an American pizza restaurant chain, was established in 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia. The chain has since garnered a cult-like following, with its blend of art, music, high-quality ingredients, and passionate dining standards. Each restaurant is locally owned and operated, with a unique, eclectic, and art-filled environment. The chain embraces its hippie culture roots, with vibrant colours, elaborate murals, and retro details scattered throughout, including nods to 70s culture like tie-dye, lava lamps, peace signs, and, of course, mushrooms.
The chain's founders were self-described hippies, and this is reflected in the decor and atmosphere of the restaurants. The founders themselves relied on friends and customers to decorate the first stores, often trading pizza for artwork. The restaurants are known for their fun and quirky artwork, with each location having its own local flare. The art often includes unifying themes, such as tie-dye and colourful mushrooms, and some locations feature live music, trivia competitions, karaoke, or bingo.
The pizza chain's unique identity and decor have become iconic, with its groovy, trippy vibes and psychedelic artwork. The restaurants are known for their stone-baked pizzas, made with fresh, high-quality ingredients, including spring water dough and all-natural meats. The menu also includes gluten-free and vegan options, catering to a range of dietary preferences and restrictions.
Mellow Mushroom has become a beloved fixture in the communities it serves, with a dedicated fan base that keeps coming back for more. The chain's combination of groovy vibes, delicious food, and a passion for people has created a cult-like following that keeps customers coming back and new locations opening up. The chain's ability to blend art, music, and dining has cultivated a unique and memorable experience that resonates with its customers.
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It is known for its psychedelic art and decor
Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers, established in 1974, is known for its psychedelic art and decor. The American pizza restaurant chain, founded in Atlanta, Georgia, has grown from a single pizzeria to a franchise with over 100 locations across the United States. Each Mellow Mushroom restaurant is independently owned and operated, offering a unique experience with its own local flair. This includes distinct artwork packages designed by local artists, reflecting the surrounding area's culture and geography.
The psychedelic art and decor for which Mellow Mushroom is known have their roots in the company's early days. The founders, a group of college students with a passion for pizza, lacked sufficient funds for traditional decor. Instead, they embraced their hippie identity and traded pizza for artwork, resulting in a creative and eclectic design aesthetic. This approach continues to define the brand, with each new or renovated location able to select decor items from a 75,000-square-foot warehouse filled with colourful statues, mushroom clocks, and unique door handles, many sourced by co-founder Marc "Banks" Weinstein himself.
The artwork in Mellow Mushroom restaurants often features unifying themes, with tie-dye and colourful mushrooms commonly appearing across locations. The brand's iconic character, 'Mel', a laid-back mushroom, first emerged in 1974 and has undergone various transformations while retaining his signature whimsical and funky style. Mel has become a cultural representation of the brand's offbeat spirit, appealing to a diverse range of customers.
The psychedelic art extends beyond the walls of the restaurants, with Mellow Mushroom's menus and merchandise also showcasing the brand's unique aesthetic. The company's early days, characterised by counterculture and individual expression, set the tone for the artistic direction that continues to evolve and captivate customers. Mellow Mushroom's commitment to creativity and innovation in its design and decor remains a key aspect of its identity, enhancing the dining experience for its guests.
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Frequently asked questions
Mellow Mushroom was established in 1974.
Mellow Mushroom was founded by three college students from Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia. The co-founders were Marc "Banks" Weinstein, Mike Nicholson, and Rocky Reeves.
The first Mellow Mushroom restaurant was located near Georgia Tech's campus on Spring Street in Atlanta, Georgia.
Mellow Mushroom now has over 100 locations across 18 or 19 states in the US.
Mellow Mushroom specializes in stone-baked pizzas and is known for its coveted "secret dough recipe" and red sauce. They also serve calzones, hoagies, salads, appetizers, and a wide selection of beer.
