Mellow Mushroom is continuing its expansion across Kentucky through a new three-unit development agreement with John and Whitney Bowling, who plan to bring additional locations to Lexington, Richmond and eventually London as they build the brand’s regional presence in the state.
Known for its imaginative pizzas, hand-tossed stone-baked dough and unique psychedelic atmosphere, Mellow Mushroom appealed to John and Whitney both as fans of the brand and as operators looking for a business they could grow long term. The couple currently owns and operates Bowling Markets, a group of gas stations in Kentucky, where they have built experience in customer service, team management and day-to-day operations.
That experience gave them confidence in the operational side of the business, but the decision to pursue Mellow Mushroom was also personal. John and Whitney saw the three-unit agreement as a way to build something with long-term value for their family.
“That’s the main driver behind everything for us — our kids,” John said. “We’re trying to push to give them more opportunities, and hopefully Mellow Mushroom affords us the chance to give them those opportunities.”
Whitney said that a long-term mindset was part of the reason the couple pursued multiple units from the start. “We have two kids, so we want more than just one location,” she said. “We don’t want them to have to share a business, instead own and operate independently.”
The Bowlings are now looking at sites in Lexington, including a possible first restaurant in the Hamburg area near Sir Barton Road. After that, they hope to move into Richmond and eventually work their way toward London, though the final breakdown of the three-unit agreement is still being finalized.
“Right now, we’re in talks for Hamburg in Lexington,” John said. “We’re doing a letter of intent in the next few days to a few weeks on a location in Hamburg, right off Sir Barton Road. Hopefully, that will be our first location. After that, we just have to look for property and see where it would be the best fit. Our hope and goal is to go to Richmond next and work our way down toward London later.”
The current development timeline calls for Lexington to open toward the end of the year, Richmond around summer 2027 and London sometime in 2028.
For John and Whitney, Lexington offers a combination of university traffic, retail activity and existing brand familiarity. Richmond and London also stood out as markets with room for more restaurant options and long-term potential.
“Lexington is a popular destination in Kentucky, particularly for shopping” John said. The city is home to the University of Kentucky and known for basketball, as well as Kentucky Derby. Lexington previously had a successful Mellow Mushroom location that served as a favorite among college students and locals alike for well over ten years. The community is looking forward to having it back.”
Beyond Lexington, the family’s existing ties to the region and the lack of comparable restaurant options in nearby markets helped make Richmond and London feel like natural next steps.
“We have work here and travel for our kids’ sports, so the area is a big part of our life,” John said. “Richmond and London don’t really have much food-wise, but they’ve got the people and the drive. Richmond also has a big university there. I just look at them as great potential markets.”
The couple is looking closely at traffic, income levels, surrounding housing and nearby demand drivers as they evaluate potential sites. In Lexington, the possible Hamburg location benefits from nearby retail anchors, university activity and strong visibility.
“When looking at potential locations, we consider various key factors including demographics, local economic indicators such as median income, traffic volume, and existing residential and commercial properties in the area," John said. "Notably, our site of interest is situated adjacent to Cabela's and one of the state's largest shopping malls, presenting a potentially prime opportunity."
Whitney emphasized that traffic is a top priority in their site selection process. "Our goal is to be where our target audience is at," she said. "We aim to locate where our business can thrive and achieve great success."
The deal positions Mellow Mushroom for continued momentum in Kentucky, particularly in mid-sized growth markets where established restaurant brands can benefit from strong local demand and limited competition in certain trade areas. John said he sees Kentucky as a market with room for additional restaurant development as more national concepts begin entering the state.
“Kentucky is still playing catch-up with the rest of the country,” John said. “CAVA is just recently coming into Kentucky, and I think CAVA is one of the hottest brands in the world right now. We’re just now getting it. I think Kentucky is prime for growth.”
For the Bowlings, the next few years are about finding markets where Mellow Mushroom can grow the right way. They were drawn to the brand’s focus on quality, guest experience and steady development rather than expansion for its own sake.
“Mellow isn’t just all about fast growth,” Whitney said. "They Prioritized quality and successful restaurants over rapid expansion. Focusing on great food, rather than opening a large number of locations. This has reflected in their dining experience. This aspect has been why we chose the brand, along with our love for Mellow Mushroom food.”
As they look ahead, John and Whitney said the goal is to grow Mellow Mushroom across Kentucky while maintaining the quality and customer experience that made them fans in the first place.
"We just want to make sure, with our goal to grow even beyond the three development areas, quality and customer service remains top priority," Whitney said.
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/mellow-mushroom.
Mellow Mushroom
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John and Whitney Bowling are starting their three-unit plan in Lexington, with Richmond and London also in view as they build on years in Kentucky food service.
Mellow Mushroom is continuing its expansion across Kentucky through a new three-unit development agreement with John and Whitney Bowling, who plan to bring additional locations to Lexington, Richmond and eventually London as they build the brand’s regional presence in the state.
Known for its imaginative pizzas, hand-tossed stone-baked dough and unique psychedelic atmosphere, Mellow Mushroom appealed to John and Whitney both as fans of the brand and as operators looking for a business they could grow long term. The couple currently owns and operates Bowling Markets, a group of gas stations in Kentucky, where they have built experience in customer service, team management and day-to-day operations.
That experience gave them confidence in the operational side of the business, but the decision to pursue Mellow Mushroom was also personal. John and Whitney saw the three-unit agreement as a way to build something with long-term value for their family.
“That’s the main driver behind everything for us — our kids,” John said. “We’re trying to push to give them more opportunities, and hopefully Mellow Mushroom affords us the chance to give them those opportunities.”
Whitney said that a long-term mindset was part of the reason the couple pursued multiple units from the start. “We have two kids, so we want more than just one location,” she said. “We don’t want them to have to share a business, instead own and operate independently.”
The Bowlings are now looking at sites in Lexington, including a possible first restaurant in the Hamburg area near Sir Barton Road. After that, they hope to move into Richmond and eventually work their way toward London, though the final breakdown of the three-unit agreement is still being finalized.
“Right now, we’re in talks for Hamburg in Lexington,” John said. “We’re doing a letter of intent in the next few days to a few weeks on a location in Hamburg, right off Sir Barton Road. Hopefully, that will be our first location. After that, we just have to look for property and see where it would be the best fit. Our hope and goal is to go to Richmond next and work our way down toward London later.”
The current development timeline calls for Lexington to open toward the end of the year, Richmond around summer 2027 and London sometime in 2028.
For John and Whitney, Lexington offers a combination of university traffic, retail activity and existing brand familiarity. Richmond and London also stood out as markets with room for more restaurant options and long-term potential.
“Lexington is a popular destination in Kentucky, particularly for shopping” John said. The city is home to the University of Kentucky and known for basketball, as well as Kentucky Derby. Lexington previously had a successful Mellow Mushroom location that served as a favorite among college students and locals alike for well over ten years. The community is looking forward to having it back.”
Beyond Lexington, the family’s existing ties to the region and the lack of comparable restaurant options in nearby markets helped make Richmond and London feel like natural next steps.
“We have work here and travel for our kids’ sports, so the area is a big part of our life,” John said. “Richmond and London don’t really have much food-wise, but they’ve got the people and the drive. Richmond also has a big university there. I just look at them as great potential markets.”
The couple is looking closely at traffic, income levels, surrounding housing and nearby demand drivers as they evaluate potential sites. In Lexington, the possible Hamburg location benefits from nearby retail anchors, university activity and strong visibility.
“When looking at potential locations, we consider various key factors including demographics, local economic indicators such as median income, traffic volume, and existing residential and commercial properties in the area," John said. "Notably, our site of interest is situated adjacent to Cabela's and one of the state's largest shopping malls, presenting a potentially prime opportunity."
Whitney emphasized that traffic is a top priority in their site selection process. "Our goal is to be where our target audience is at," she said. "We aim to locate where our business can thrive and achieve great success."
The deal positions Mellow Mushroom for continued momentum in Kentucky, particularly in mid-sized growth markets where established restaurant brands can benefit from strong local demand and limited competition in certain trade areas. John said he sees Kentucky as a market with room for additional restaurant development as more national concepts begin entering the state.
“Kentucky is still playing catch-up with the rest of the country,” John said. “CAVA is just recently coming into Kentucky, and I think CAVA is one of the hottest brands in the world right now. We’re just now getting it. I think Kentucky is prime for growth.”
For the Bowlings, the next few years are about finding markets where Mellow Mushroom can grow the right way. They were drawn to the brand’s focus on quality, guest experience and steady development rather than expansion for its own sake.
“Mellow isn’t just all about fast growth,” Whitney said. "They Prioritized quality and successful restaurants over rapid expansion. Focusing on great food, rather than opening a large number of locations. This has reflected in their dining experience. This aspect has been why we chose the brand, along with our love for Mellow Mushroom food.”
As they look ahead, John and Whitney said the goal is to grow Mellow Mushroom across Kentucky while maintaining the quality and customer experience that made them fans in the first place.
"We just want to make sure, with our goal to grow even beyond the three development areas, quality and customer service remains top priority," Whitney said.
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/mellow-mushroom.
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