The interior of the former Mellow Mushroom restaurant at 1201 16th St. on March 19, 2025. (Max Scheinblum/BusinessDen)
Mellow Mushroom’s Denver trip is over.
The Atlanta-based pizza chain’s location on the ground floor of the Tabor Center has closed after 15 years, leaving the company with no Colorado restaurants.
Mellow Mushroom did not respond to several requests for comment.
The company began serving stone-baked pies and other American fare in 6,400 square feet at 1201 16th St. in 2010.
A sign on the door thanks customers and invites them to go to the company’s website to “find your nearest open Mellow.” That turns out to be in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Downtown was the second Mellow Mushroom in Colorado, following one in Centennial within The Streets at SouthGlenn. That location closed in 2017 after an eight-year stretch.
A Lone Tree joint that opened in 2013 also closed, though it is unclear when exactly that happened.
Westword reported in 2009 that a family group led by Morris and Sharon Purcel owned franchise rights for the Centennial State.
“I had a vision to take Mellow Mushroom out to Colorado and to create a business for my family to grow together,” Morris Purcel said that year. “Our long-term plan is to open fifteen locations throughout Colorado over the next several years.”
Purcel told BusinessDen this week the group sold the stores back to Home Grown Industries of Georgia, Mellow Mushroom’s franchisor, in 2018.
According to the company’s website, the chain has around 160 locations across 19 states and Washington D.C. Its first spot opened near Georgia Tech in 1974.
Panera Bread also recently called it quits along the 16th Street Mall.
The interior of the former Mellow Mushroom restaurant at 1201 16th St. on March 19, 2025. (Max Scheinblum/BusinessDen)
Mellow Mushroom’s Denver trip is over.
The Atlanta-based pizza chain’s location on the ground floor of the Tabor Center has closed after 15 years, leaving the company with no Colorado restaurants.
Mellow Mushroom did not respond to several requests for comment.
The company began serving stone-baked pies and other American fare in 6,400 square feet at 1201 16th St. in 2010.
A sign on the door thanks customers and invites them to go to the company’s website to “find your nearest open Mellow.” That turns out to be in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Downtown was the second Mellow Mushroom in Colorado, following one in Centennial within The Streets at SouthGlenn. That location closed in 2017 after an eight-year stretch.
A Lone Tree joint that opened in 2013 also closed, though it is unclear when exactly that happened.
Westword reported in 2009 that a family group led by Morris and Sharon Purcel owned franchise rights for the Centennial State.
“I had a vision to take Mellow Mushroom out to Colorado and to create a business for my family to grow together,” Morris Purcel said that year. “Our long-term plan is to open fifteen locations throughout Colorado over the next several years.”
Purcel told BusinessDen this week the group sold the stores back to Home Grown Industries of Georgia, Mellow Mushroom’s franchisor, in 2018.
According to the company’s website, the chain has around 160 locations across 19 states and Washington D.C. Its first spot opened near Georgia Tech in 1974.
Panera Bread also recently called it quits along the 16th Street Mall.
This story is for our paid subscribers only. Please become one of the thousands of BusinessDen members today!
Your subscription has expired. Renew now by choosing a subscription below!
For more informaiton, head over to your profile.
SUBSCRIBE NOW
TERMS OF SERVICE:
ALL MEMBERSHIPS RENEW AUTOMATICALLY. YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR A 1 YEAR MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL AT THE RATE IN EFFECT AT THAT TIME UNLESS YOU CANCEL YOUR MEMBERSHIP BY LOGGING IN OR BY CONTACTING SUPPORT@BUSINESSDEN.COM.
ALL CHARGES FOR MONTHLY OR ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPS ARE NONREFUNDABLE.
EACH MEMBERSHIP WILL ONLY FUNCTION ON UP TO 3 MACHINES. ACCOUNTS ABUSING THAT LIMIT WILL BE DISCONTINUED.
FOR ASSISTANCE WITH YOUR MEMBERSHIP PLEASE EMAIL SUPPORT@BUSINESSDEN.COM
Already a Member? Sign in
Return to Homepage
