Emma Wilson
Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers is an American pizza restaurant chain that was established in 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia. The first Mellow Mushroom was opened on Spring Street in Atlanta by three friends—Marc Banks Weinstein, Mike Nicholson, and Rocky Reeves—who imagined a pizza joint that served stone-baked pies and embraced the trippy vibes of the '70s. Today, there are more than 160 Mellow Mushrooms across 17 states, each with its own unique, funky interior.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of establishment | 1974 |
| Origin location | Spring Street, Atlanta, Georgia |
| Founders | Marc "Banks" Weinstein, Mike Nicholson, Rocky Reeves |
| Founder's background | College students from Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia |
| Type of restaurant | Pizza chain |
| Current headquarters | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Number of locations | 160+ |
| States with locations | 17 |
| Ownership | Franchise under Home Grown Industries, Inc. of Georgia |
| Menu | Pizza, calzones, hoagies, salads, appetizers, beer |
| Decor | Tie-dye, colourful mushrooms, psychedelic art |
| Activities | Live music, trivia competitions, karaoke, bingo |
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What You'll Learn
- Mellow Mushroom's first restaurant was opened in 1974 on Spring Street, Atlanta, Georgia
- The chain was founded by three college students
- The menu has evolved from a concise offering of pizzas, hoagies, salad and beer
- The chain is known for its psychedelic art and decor
- Mellow Mushroom is the only chain in the world that offers Southern pizza
Mellow Mushroom's first restaurant was opened in 1974 on Spring Street, Atlanta, Georgia
Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers, an American pizza restaurant chain, opened its first restaurant in 1974 on Spring Street, Atlanta, Georgia. The restaurant was founded by three college students, two of whom were roommates at Georgia Tech. The original location was near the Georgia Tech campus and could fit only 19 people. The first Mellow Mushroom was a pizzeria that served stone-baked pies and embraced the trippy vibes of the 1970s. The menu was concise, with small cheese pizzas priced at $2.50 each, Coke products for $0.30 each, and beer for $0.75 each. The restaurant's decor was eclectic, with mismatched furniture and artwork traded for pizza.
The success of the first Mellow Mushroom led to the opening of additional locations in Buckhead, Midtown, Sandy Springs, Avondale Estates, and other areas. Today, Mellow Mushroom has expanded to over 160 locations across 17 states, with each store locally owned, operated, and decorated differently. The chain is known for its unique, funky interiors, live music, trivia competitions, and, of course, its pizza and beer.
The original recipe for the pizza dough was inspired by Nick DeVito of Chicago and has remained the same over the years. The dough for each store is prepared in a commissary kitchen at the corporate headquarters, ensuring consistency across all locations. Mellow Mushroom has also expanded its menu to include calzones, hoagies, salads, and appetizers, but pizza and beer remain the staple items.
The founders of Mellow Mushroom, including Marc "Banks" Weinstein, Mike Nicholson, and Rocky Reeves, were described as "hippies" who embraced environmental initiatives such as growing sprouts in the restaurants and using natural cardboard pizza boxes. This ethos has continued, with Mellow Mushroom now offering all-natural meats, preservative-free cheese, and pizza boxes with a negative carbon footprint. The chain also stands out for its psychedelic art and colourful decor, including mushroom clocks and unique door handles.
The first Mellow Mushroom on Spring Street set the tone for the chain's unique culture and vibe, combining great pizza, a fun atmosphere, and a focus on sustainability. The success of the original location laid the foundation for Mellow Mushroom's growth and popularity, solidifying its place as a beloved and iconic pizza chain in the United States.
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The chain was founded by three college students
Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers is an American pizza restaurant chain founded in 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia, by three college students. The first Mellow Mushroom was opened on Spring Street in Atlanta, near the Georgia Tech campus. The founders, Rocky Reeves and Mike Nicholson, were roommates at Georgia Tech. They were later joined by a third founder from the University of Georgia, Marc "Banks" Weinstein.
The idea for Mellow Mushroom came from the founders' shared passion for pizza. They envisioned a pizza joint that served stone-baked pies and embraced the trippy vibes of the 1970s. The original menu, created in 1974, featured small cheese pizzas priced at $2.50 each, alongside Coke products for $0.30 each, and beer for $0.75 each. The chain's menu has since expanded to include calzones, hoagies, salads, appetizers, and a wide selection of beer.
The founders of Mellow Mushroom had years of pizza experience under their belts, as both Reeves and Nicholson had worked in various pizza restaurants to pay for college. This prior experience, combined with affordable prices and a location near a college campus, contributed to the success of their business. The original Mellow Mushroom could fit only 19 people, but the founders quickly expanded their business, opening six locations within 12 years.
The interior design of Mellow Mushroom restaurants is known for its funky and psychedelic art, with colourful statues, mushroom clocks, and unique door handles. Each location has its own unique decor, often featuring tie-dye and colourful mushrooms. The chain's mascot, Mel O. Mushroom, and its supporting cast of animated characters, were created by Atlanta artist Buddy Finethy during the early franchising phase.
Today, Mellow Mushroom has over 160 locations across the United States, with each store being locally owned and operated, and decorated differently. The chain is known for its unique, groovy vibes and has become a beloved fixture in the communities it serves.
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The menu has evolved from a concise offering of pizzas, hoagies, salad and beer
Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers, an American pizza restaurant chain, was established in 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia. It was founded by three college-aged friends, Marc "Banks" Weinstein, Mike Nicholson, and Rocky Reeves, who were passionate about pizza. The first Mellow Mushroom restaurant was located on Spring Street in Atlanta, near the Georgia Tech campus, where two of the founders were students.
The original menu was concise, offering five pizzas, four hoagies, a chef salad, and beer. The small cheese pizzas were priced at $2.50 each, with Coke products at $0.30 each and beer (Budweiser, Michelob, or PBR) for $0.75 each. Over the years, the menu has evolved, and while pizza remains the staple, the selection has expanded. Today, Mellow Mushroom restaurants offer a wide range of pizzas, calzones, hoagies, salads, and appetizers, such as pretzel bites. They also boast all-natural meats, preservative-free cheese, and pizza boxes with a negative carbon footprint.
The chain is known for its unique, funky interiors, featuring bright colors, psychedelic art, and mushroom-themed decor. Each location has its own distinct design, often incorporating local elements, such as school mascots. The original six Mellow Mushroom locations included Buckhead, Midtown, Sandy Springs, Avondale Estates, Buford Highway, and near Emory.
Mellow Mushroom has grown significantly since its early days, with over 160 locations across the United States. Each store is locally owned and operated, contributing to the brand's organic growth. The company celebrates its anniversaries with unique menu items, special events, and pop-up happy hours showcasing local and regional beers.
The brand has also maintained its connection to its roots, with co-founder Weinstein still involved in taste-testing new menu items and quality control. Mellow Mushroom continues to embrace its "hippie" beginnings, balancing that vibe with modern-day profitability and structure.
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The chain is known for its psychedelic art and decor
Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers, established in 1974, is an American pizza chain known for its groovy vibes and psychedelic art and decor. The chain was founded by three college-aged friends, Marc "Banks" Weinstein, Mike Nicholson, and Rocky Reeves, who were self-described "hippies" making pizza.
The first Mellow Mushroom opened on Spring Street in Atlanta, Georgia, near the Georgia Tech campus. The restaurant's decor embraced the trippy vibes of the 1970s, with colourful mushrooms and tie-dye as common themes. Each Mellow Mushroom location has its own unique, funky interior befitting its community, with artwork sometimes created by friends and customers in exchange for pizza.
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. The chain's headquarters in Atlanta houses a 75,000-square-foot warehouse full of psychedelic art and fixtures, including colourful statues, mushroom clocks, and unique door handles. Franchisees can select decor items from the warehouse for new or renovated stores, and Mellow Mushroom will even paint them upon request.
The groovy vibes and psychedelic art of Mellow Mushroom extend beyond its decor. The chain offers a range of unique menu items, such as the Holy Shiitake pizza, Disco Peach cocktail, and limited-time anniversary specials. Each location typically offers a large selection of beer, with 20-40 beers on draft and 50 or more bottled. Live music, trivia competitions, karaoke, and bingo further contribute to the fun and groovy atmosphere that Mellow Mushroom is known for.
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Mellow Mushroom is the only chain in the world that offers Southern pizza
Mellow Mushroom is an American pizza restaurant chain that was established in 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia. It was founded by three college-aged friends, Marc "Banks" Weinstein, Mike Nicholson, and Rocky Reeves, who were passionate about pizza. The first Mellow Mushroom opened on Spring Street in Atlanta, near the Georgia Tech campus, and today there are over 160 locations across the United States.
Mellow Mushroom is known for its unique, funky interiors, featuring bright colours, psychedelic art, and mushroom-themed decor. Each location has its own distinct design, often with a unifying theme, such as tie-dye and colourful mushrooms. The chain also stands out for its live music, trivia competitions, karaoke, and bingo nights, as well as its wide selection of beer, typically offering 20-40 beers on draft and 50 or more bottled varieties.
While Mellow Mushroom has expanded beyond pizza to include calzones, hoagies, salads, and appetizers, it is renowned for its Southern-style pizza. In fact, Mellow Mushroom is the only chain in the world that offers this particular style of pizza, trademarking the term "Southern pizza." The secret dough recipe, inspired by Nick DeVito of Chicago, has remained the same since the chain's inception, resulting in a slightly sweet crust that has become a signature of the brand.
The original menu at Mellow Mushroom featured five pizzas, four hoagies, a chef's salad, and beer, with small cheese pizzas priced at just $2.50 each. Today, the menu has expanded, but the focus on pizza and beer remains. Mellow Mushroom has also introduced special menu items to celebrate milestones, such as a new pizza with pepperoni, peppers, seasoned ricotta cheese, and hot honey to commemorate its 50th anniversary. The chain has also embraced sustainability, using all-natural meats, preservative-free cheese, and pizza boxes with a negative carbon footprint.
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Frequently asked questions
Mellow Mushroom originated in Atlanta, Georgia.
The first Mellow Mushroom opened in 1974.
Mellow Mushroom was founded by three college students, Marc "Banks" Weinstein, Mike Nicholson, and Rocky Reeves.
The first Mellow Mushroom menu offered small cheese pizzas at $2.50 each, Coke products for $0.30 each, and beer for $0.75 each.
As of 2024, there are more than 160 Mellow Mushroom locations across 17 states.
