VALDOSTA —  Started in 1974 by three college students in Atlanta, Mellow Mushroom started offering franchises in the late 80s.

One of the latest franchises opened in Valdosta on Sept. 28 this year, part of a series of Mellow Mushroom franchises opened by Bo Chambliss.

Each location—one in Pooler, Statesboro, Valdosta, and an upcoming one in St. Simons—is influenced by Chambliss’ work as the president of the Georgia Theatre Company.

Comic book scenes and super heros decorate the walls.

A multi layered painting of Superman is suspended from the ceiling with layers alternating between day and night, framing Superman in both starlight and sunlight.

A giant, life-sized Hulk statue stands outside one side of the building.

On the other side, Superman.

In the two months its been open, the new Mellow Mushroom has garnered large crowds.

“It’s been overwhelming,” said General Manager Wes Kennedy. “It’s been really great.”

In its first couple of weeks, lines were so long that waiting times could stretch into an hour or two, leading to at least one impromptu football game started up in the parking lot by patrons.

Now, the restaurant stays busy throughout the week, with the weekends seeing a boom in attendance, starting as soon as they open Friday.

“Monday through Thursday, people come in and have that normal lunch hour. But on Friday, that lunch hour starts stretching from 11 to 3.”

Each Mellow Mushroom franchise is given a lot of leeway as to the atmosphere of the place. Some Mellow Mushrooms focus on the restaurant and food side of it, while others put the focus on the bar.

The new location has a well stocked bar—with 40 beers on draft, 30-40 bottled beers, wine and a good selection of spirits—but is aiming to be a restaurant that also has a bar as opposed to being a bar that also serves food.

“We’re trying to please everybody. We have a bar, but we’re not a bar.”

The menu also aims to please everybody.

There are a number of salads, calzones, pizzas and sandwiches ready to go off the menu, with pizzas ranging from supreme, meat and veggie pizzas to the more esoteric Red Skin Potato Pie, Thai Dye, Bayou Bleu and Philosopher’s Pie.

The menu also offers a high degree of customization, offering build-your-own pizzas, calzones and salads.

Mellow also offers gluten-free dough and a number of gluten-free ingredients.

“Whatever you want to do, we’ll make it happen.”

Mellow Mushroom is open 11 a.m. until 10 p.m., Sunday—Thursday, and 11 a.m. until 11 p.m., Friday— Saturday.

It is located at 1526 Baytree Rd.

More information: 229-333-1891