According to several media outlets like the Orlando Business Journal and Growth Spotter, the Atlanta-based Mellow Mushroom Pizza chain is considering 15 additional Orlando-area locations. One of those locations is Disney Springs.

Mellow Mushroom Expansion

The chain currently has five restaurants in the greater Orlando area – one on International Drive just east of SeaWorld and another one near the University of Central Florida, as well as locations in Winter Park, Sanford, and Mount Dora. Another dozen locations are located in what the region calls Central Florida.

With the success at these locations, the company is looking to expand in the area. Ahsan Jiva, the chain’s executive VP of Strategy and Transformation, had this to say about expansion:

I can see a pathway to getting at least three to seven, potentially 10 more locations from Clearwater all the way to the East Coast. I can definitely see a pathway to get to 20 in metro Orlando, looking at possibly locating restaurants at Disney Springs as well as in Lake Nona and Clermont. Also, I see opportunity in St. Cloud, the Kissimmee area, DeLand, and then The Villages.

 The timeline of this expansion depends on whether a land deal or existing building is already in place. However, the company wishes to see expansion within  six to eight months, with a years-long growth plan:

We have a five-to seven-year growth plan. We want to be methodical. One to two locations per year for the next five to seven years is definitely something that we can achieve pretty easily.

Mellow Mushroom marked its 50th anniversary last year with 165 locations across the U.S., mostly in the Southeast. While nearly all of the locations are full-service sit-down restaurants, the chain introduced a new concept last year– what it calls a “fast-fine” model, a smaller location that features counter service and digital kiosks where customers can place their orders. It requires about half as many employees and allows more flexibility when moving into new markets.

Do you hope to see a Mellow Mushroom location at Disney Springs? Let us know in the comments and on social media.

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