Unusual Pizza Chain Targets DMV for Expansion

Mellow Mushroom is looking to Alexandria and Arlington for growth opportunities.

Kelly Mintzer
Written By Kelly Mintzer
News Writer
Mellow Mushroom (Image credit: @Mellow Mushroom on Facebook)

It looks like there’s a new pie on the horizon for DMV pizza enthusiasts. Mellow Mushroom, a retro brand with its roots firmly in the ‘70s, is eying two Virginia markets for expansion, reports local media outlet ARLNow.

 

The whimsical and distinctive chain is specifically targeting Arlington and Alexandria as homes for its DC-area locations. Vice president of franchise development Jamie Cecil states that Mellow Mushroom is hoping to open between 8 and 10 locations in the area. 

 

The brand is still seeking out franchisees and storefronts. Cecil explains “We love what Arlington has given us as far as demographics go. And then once we find that franchisee, then we’ll be able to kind of dive down into particular areas or neighborhoods.”

 

Locals may be worried that the absence of franchisees and real estate means that Mellow Mushroom pizza is still a long ways away, however Cecil states that the first restaurant could be open in 12 to 18 months.

 

Mellow Mushroom flipped its first pie in 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia. The groovy concept offers a variety of “stone baked pizzas” with whimsical names, including the “Funky Q Chicken” and “Kosmic Karma”, alongside “create your own options”, ensuring there’s a pie for every taste. 

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Kelly Mintzer is a freelance writer in the greater Philadelphia area. She's been delighted to write about the Philly and DC restaurant scenes for What Now Media since 2023. Additionally, she writes about genre media for Morbidly Beautiful and co-hosts the Guilty Pleasures and No Notes podcasts. Kelly has been writing across mediums since graduating from Moravian College with a degree in English in 2008. She has covered everything from listicles to how-to articles, to movie reviews, to op-eds, to interviews about up-and-coming restaurants.
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