Mellow Mushroom opens today

The first Mellow Mushroom opened back in 1974 in Georgia. More than a hundred locations and 35 years later, the "bohemian-chic" pizza chain has finally landed in metro Denver, where today a Mellow Mushroom will open at the Streets at Southglenn. Morris and Sharon Purcel, their son Shane and their...

By Patricia Calhoun

August 31, 2009

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The first Mellow Mushroom opened back in 1974 in Georgia. More than a hundred locations and 35 years later, the "bohemian-chic" pizza chain has finally landed in metro Denver, where today a Mellow Mushroom will open at the Streets at Southglenn.

Morris and Sharon Purcel, their son Shane and their daughter and son-in-law Holley and Jason Griset, along with franchisee John Valentino, bought the franchise rights for all of Colorado. "I had a vision to take Mellow Mushroom out to Colorado and to create a business for my family to grow together," says Morris Purcel. "Our long-term plan is to open fifteen locations throughout Colorado over the next several years."

At this first location in Centennial, they plan to feature not just pizza (and calzones and salads) and 36 beers on tap, as well as live music and local art. A second location is slated to open on the 16th Street Mall in spring 2010. For more information, go to www.mellowmushroom.com.

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Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12's public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.

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