Pizza News

Only Dallas branch of Mellow Mushroom pizza chain closed

Less pizza on Henderson Avenue.

Photo courtesy of Mellow Mushroom

After a mere five months open, a branch of the Atlanta-based pizza chain Mellow Mushroom closed abruptly on June 25. The 2326 Henderson Ave. location closed without warning, with managers announcing the closure to a meeting of the staff that morning.

Employees were offered the opportunity to transfer to other locations; the closest location is 30 minutes away. A source who asked not to be identified said that, in recent weeks, vendors such as Ben E. Keith were asking to be paid in cash only.

Mellow Mushroom was founded in 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia; its pizza probably wouldn't be considered the best in town but it offers a wide variety of options including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free.

It's also known for its hippie-esque art, with features such as the VW Bus that is in the Southlake location where customers can dine.

Owners of the Dallas branch were Monte Jensen, Martha Jensen, and Luis Gonzalez, who also owned Mellow Mushrooms in McKinney and Flower Mound. They opened the Henderson Avenue branch in 2016 in the former Hacienda on Henderson space. It was the only location inside Dallas; the other nine Mellow Mushrooms around DFW are located in the suburbs.

A large percentage of the complaints about the restaurant involved valet parking. The adjacent lot was previously attached to the location, but when it became Mellow Mushroom, it turned into a paid lot only.

The owners were not available for comment but a representative from the chain noted that the Henderson Avenue neighborhood had more of a bar vibe than other Mellow Mushroom locations.

Henderson Avenue also has other serious pizza options including a location of Pie Tap Pizza + Workshop and the original Fireside Pies.

pizza closings

Ice Cream News

Global gourmet ice cream chain debuts in U.S. with 2 Dallas-area shops

Dumont Ice Cream

An ice cream concept from India has made its U.S. debut, right here in Texas: Called Dumont Creamery & Cafe, it's a ice cream chain founded in Hyderabad that now has two locations in the Dallas area.

Their first location was Frisco, which opened at 1951 FM 423 at the end of 2023; a second location opened in late October in Coppell at 1535 S. Belt Line Rd. #160.

Dumont was founded in 1999 by brothers Vivek and Bhashkaar, and currently has 23 locations in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Vijayawada listed on their website.

Bringing the concept to Texas are local franchisees and friends Sai Sashank and Tarang Tirumala, who moved to the U.S. in 2005 to attend college.

Both have successful consulting careers, but craved a taste of home.

Ice cream is the centerpiece at Dumont with more than two dozen flavors, ranging from gourmet to classics to flavors boasting global influences: from Italian-inspired sorbet to a New Zealand-inspired honey ice cream called "hokey pokey."

There is vanilla, chocolate, and mint chocolate chip — but also unique options such as cake and jam, an ice cream with a vanilla base, bites of cake, and spiced jam; and kheer, a coconut ice cream studded with dried fruits and nuts — a nod to the kheer rice pudding that's one of India's favorite desserts.

A single scoop is $4. They have cups and a cute version of waffle cones: shorter and fatter than usual, to provide a greater ratio of ice cream-to-cone.

In addition to ice cream, they have a beverage program with coffee and espresso drinks such as lattes, plus boba tea. There are also special drinks like falooda — an exotic Indian milkshake with rose syrup and vermicelli — as well as limited-edition drinks like iced kheer, a cool beverage version of that same popular rice pudding dessert.

Both locations are spacious, bright, and clean, with pale green banquettes at Frisco, and pale blue chairs and tables at Coppell. Both feature an astronaut theme with statues and framed photos and cartoons on the wall. The Coppell location also has a mural dedicated to great moments in Coppell history.