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After 13 years of business, Tallahassee's Mellow Mushroom announces permanent closure

Posted at 5:23 PM, Jun 01, 2020
and last updated 2020-06-01 17:23:30-04

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — Some restaurants turned to takeout and curbside delivery as a lifeline during the pandemic, but others just couldn't make ends meet.

Popular pizza joint Mellow Mushroom, affectionately known as "The Mushroom," on West Pensacola Street is bowing out of the dough game but not without leaving a warm legacy.

"This has obviously been very difficult for our local businesses," said Sue Dick, the president and CEO of the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce. "We've seen a lot of pressure being put on them due to COVID with regard to closing or temporarily closing. Obviously some businesses are not reopening."

Mellow Mushroom announced via social media on Sunday that they would remain closed after serving the community for 13 years.

"It is more than just the food," said Katonya Bentley-Anderson, a Mellow Mushroom customer. "It's the staff, it's the people."

Many responded to their post, recalling how the restaurant had become a staple spot on Seminole game days.

"The few times that we've missed the opportunity of going to The Mushroom before a game it just didn't feel right, it didn't seem right," Bentley-Anderson said. "Something was missing. So we always made sure we went after game if we ever missed before."

Now, people like Bentley Anderson say they'll miss The Mushroom more than ever.

"He was doing so much with the karaoke, and the game nights, and things," said Bentley-Anderson. "Just trying to bring people in, but no one could have imagined with COVID how devastating it was going to be on so many people, and particularly the small businesses."

While you may not be able to eat at the mushroom, you may still be able to catch a glimpse of its memory. Owners are working now to determine what to do with the building and how to preserve or relocate the beloved Seminole statue that sits out front.