The Mellow Mushroom, a quirky, psychedelic pizzeria in Coral Ridge Mall, confirmed it will be closing its doors after almost nine years of service.
A phone call to the restaurant Tuesday confirmed the closure, but details were not divulged.
The pizzeria, located at 1451 Coral Ridge Avenue, opened its doors at the Coralville location in 2015, taking up residence in the space that formerly housed Bennigan’s. The chain was founded in 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia, with each restaurant locally owned and operated. The Coral Ridge Mall Mellow Mushroom is the only location in Iowa, and has an Iowa agriculture theme intertwining with space and aliens.
Mellow Mushroom is known for its plant-based menu options, serving vegan-friendly pretzels, salad dressings and pizzas.
In recent years, the restaurant faced trouble when owner Andrew Knudson was arrested in 2018 for slapping an employee’s bottom, and again in 2020 for threatening to shoot his estranged wife, although the restaurant asserts he was no longer involved with the business at that point.
