Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers is a pizzeria with locations in the United States. The store serves pizza and other food items as well as beverages. Starting from humble roots in the early 1970s and inspired by the hippie culture, the idea behind the pizzeria was to make the most delicious pizza in the world. The restaurant strives to provide happiness in a “mouthwatering slice of pizza and an ice cold beer.” The pizzeria’s mission is to “provide delicious food in a fun, creative environment.” The establishment has been successful in this mission as is evident by its growth and success over the years.

Mellow Mushroom created the Original Classic Southern Pizza. The pizzeria serves a wide assortment of beer, including quality imports and local favorites. It even has a beer club. The restaurant has a relaxed, laid back and funky atmosphere. Each store is unique, as no Mellow Mushroom is like the other. Each restaurant has original artwork and decor, with different designs and styles. Stores sometimes provide entertainment, which includes live bands, games, or trivia nights. The chain aims to provide delicious pizza and a relaxing and fun dining experience.

History

The Mellow Mushroom was established in 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia by three college students, Rocky Reeves and Mike Nicholson from Georgia Tech, and Marc Weinstein from the University of Georgia.  The first store was opened on Spring Street in Atlanta. The pizzeria became very popular and attracted large crowds of customers. As a result, more locations were opened in the area. The founders began franchising ten years later. The first franchise was opened in Atlanta in the late eighties. The pizzeria remains unincorporated and operates as a franchise. The headquarters is still located in Atlanta, Georgia.

The first franchise outside of Atlanta was located in Athens, Georgia near the University of Georgia. However, that store was open until 2006 until it was relocated to downtown Athens in 2007. The chain has approximately 170 stores in various states throughout the United States. The chain has numerous locations in Atlanta, as well as in other areas of Georgia. The establishment also has locations in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Virginia.

The franchise is still expanding to this day. New stores were recently opened in Port Orange, Florida; Newport News, Virginia; Olive Branch, Mississippi; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; and Somerset, Kentucky.  The establishment also actively takes on franchisees to open up new stores. Additional locations will soon open in College Park, Georgia; Montgomery, Alabama; Round Rock, Texas; Jacksonville, Florida; and Rockville, Maryland. The chain has established an excellent reputation over the years, which has led to its tremendous growth and success.

Although the first pizzeria that was opened on Spring Street in Atlanta no longer exists, there are still numerous locations in Georgia in addition to the other locations throughout the country. The La Vista Road location in Atlanta was opened in 1978. This location, is known as the “Emory Mellow” and is the oldest location that is still open. Most stores were initially located in college towns due to the pizzeria’s popularity with students. However, starting in 2000, the franchise began to expand in markets outside of the college towns. These new markets included urban areas. Nowadays, the more recently opened pizzerias are larger and more modern.

Review

Mellow Mushroom serves its pizza in three sizes, small (10 inch), medium (14 inch), and large (16 inch). However, individual slices may be served during lunch or late night at some locations. Aside from pizza, the store also serves calzones, salads, burgers, hoagies and appetizers. The pizzeria provides a separate vegan menu, as well as a gluten-free menu. There is also an allergen and special diets menu for customers with special dietary needs. A kids menu is available for children. The restaurant also provides catering service for special events for customers upon request.

Specialty pizzas include the Gourmet White, House Special, Kosmic Karma, Magical Mystery Tour, Mighty Meaty, Mega-Veggie, Funky Q Chicken, Holy Shitake Pie, Bayou Bleu, Thai Dye, Mellowterranean, Red Skin Potato Pie, Philosophers Pie, Buffalo Chicken, and Maui Wowie. There is also the option to build your own pizza. Pizzas are priced according to size. The small is priced between $10 and $12, medium between $19 and $21, and the large is between $23 and $26. A cheese pizza is priced significantly lower than pizzas with toppings.

Calzones are priced between $7 and $11 and consist of the House, Cheese or Chicken/Steak and Cheese selections. The Hoagies are priced between $4 and $6 for half-size and $7 and $9 for whole hoagies.  Hoagie selections include the Meatball, Steak and Cheese, Avocado, Chicken and Cheese, Turkey/Ham and Cheese, Mushroom Club, Italian, Jerk Chicken, Spiked Sausage, Tempeh, Tofu, Righteous Portobello Reuben, Portobello and Cheese, and the Shrimp Hoag’ Boy.  Salad options include the Greek, Enlightened Spinach, Chef, Caesar, and Tossed salads. Small salads are priced between $3 and $5 and regular sized salads are priced between $6 and $9. There is also the option to build your own Calzones, Hoagies, and Salads.

The restaurant’s hours of operation vary according to location. The hours are generally 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Sundays to Thursdays, and 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Some locations provide delivery, and those that don’t have a pick up option. Service is excellent, although the speed depends on how crowded the restaurant is at the time. Customers love the food here, especially the pizza and its uniquely flavored crust. Favorites include the Holy Shitake, Kosmic Karma, and the Gourmet White. The pizzeria is clean and offers an easygoing, casual and fun environment for its guests to enjoy their pizza.