Popular pizza restaurant in Warner Robins reopens after remodel. Take a look inside

A popular Warner Robins restaurant known for its stone-baked pizza and psychedelic 1970s vibe has a new look that’s groovier than ever.

Mellow Mushroom at 710 Lake Joy Road reopened Thursday afternoon after being closed for just over three weeks for a remodel, a 15-year milestone for franchise owners Brian and Brittanie Anderson.

“We’re excited,” Brian Anderson said. “It’s a new chapter.”

Brittanie Anderson added, “We’re happy to refresh and still be here and serving the community.”

The couple actually met at the restaurant that was originally opened by her parents, Cyndie and Johnny Smith, in early 2009.

In October 2011, Brian Anderson was celebrating a birthday with a friend and Brittanie Anderson, who’s always been involved with the restaurant, brought their food to the table.

Three years later, the couple wed on Oct. 11, 2014. They have two sons, 8-year-old Axl and 3-year-old Aston.

The Andersons took over the franchise in 2017 after the unexpected death of her father.

Brian Anderson is an electrical engineer for Raytheon, a national defense contractor with Robins Air Force Base. He also owns AnderFab Machine, an auto machine shop in Kathleen.

The couple have a farm in Kathleen and raise beef cattle.

Both are hands-ons at the restaurant. He handles maintenance and equipment. Brittanie Anderson, who’s been able to step back a bit, handles payroll. They also have a general manager.

The remodel

Stepping inside, customers are greeted at a new reception desk that’s designed as a giant boombox with psychedelic purple and pink colors and blue hues.

The dining room features all new booths, tables and chairs in colors of blue, mauve or green.

A wrap in a variety of psychedelic colors stretched along the top of the walls celebrates the restaurant’s music theme of paint being splashed up by sound waves.

Neon signs of a mushroom and hand signs for peace and hang loose have been added to a wall in the back of the dining area.

“Take the Trip Less Traveled,” reads a blue neon sign mounted on another wall of the dining area.

The revamped bar area is anchored by a new U-shaped bar with a counter that has a lighted glass top that can change colors.

A draft beer tower also has been added for the 24 draft beers on tap, including one from Fall Line Brewing Co. in Macon. A pink “Keep on Shroomin’” sign hangs above the draft beer tower.

The outdoor patio, which features a stage for singers and musicians, is now covered and part of it is screened.

Motorists driving by the restaurant can’t miss the new giant purple mushroom statue in front of the main entrance. The restaurant also sports a new sign, part of this year’s 50th anniversary rebrand for the Mellow Mushroom restaurant chain.

Also, panels of blue mushrooms now adorn the front of the restaurant.

Coming soon as part of the remodel is a nearly 8-foot statue of a dude on a motorcycle and a 13-foot statue of a pizza-beer guy that will go in the front of the restaurant.

A 25-foot statue of the restaurant chain’s mascot — Mel O. Mushroom — is expected to be placed in the back of the restaurant.

Also coming is a Volkswagen Bus that’s been cut out to include a booth. The bus booth is expected to be parked on the patio.

The dining room seats up to 186 people inside and another 100 people on the patio.

The menu

More than a dozen specialty pizzas are featured on the menu, including vegan and gluten-free options. Customers may also build their own pizza.

Brittanie Anderson’s favorite is the buffalo chicken pizza, which includes mozzarella, buffalo chicken, caramelized onions, applewood smoked bacon and a double swirl of buffalo sauce with choice of chunky blue cheese or ranch dressing.

Brian Anderson’s go-to pizza is simpler. He prefers pepperoni and bacon.

The menu also is filled with “hidden gems” of burgers and hoagies, oven-baked wings, salads and soup.

“We really have a full menu,” Brittanie Anderson said.

The menu also features calzones, spinach & artichoke dip and other “munchies,” as well as cookies and brownies for dessert.

Specialty cocktails, mocktails and wines also are offered.

For a limited time from now until May, Mellow Mushroom nationwide has rolled out two new menu items:

Steakhouse pizza — an olive oil and garlic base topped with all-natural grilled ribeye steak, roasted shiitake, button and portobello mushrooms, creamy mozzarella, caramelized onions, spicy pickled peppers and then finished with chives and a garlic aioli drizzle.

Steakhouse calzone — all-natural ribeye grilled steak with roasted shiitake, button and portobello mushrooms, caramelized onions, spicy pickled peppers, provolone, seasoned ricotta, and a side of garlic aioli.

Founded in Atlanta in 1974, Mellow Mushroom has more than 160 locations across 16 states.

The Warner Robins location closed Oct. 20 for the remodel and resumed curbside Nov. 8 before fully reopening.

In addition to dine-in and curbside, the restaurant offers takeout and delivery via DoorDash. Also, the establishment is now open an hour later daily except Sundays.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m .to 9 p.m. Sunday. The number is 478-287-6355.

This story was originally published November 15, 2024 at 12:23 PM.