Popular Tampa Bay pizza franchise shifts ownership

Atlanta-based Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers currently has four locations in the Tampa Bay area, three of which are getting a new franchise owner.

Bob Basham and Jesse McPherson will be taking over the Clearwater, Brandon and Wesley Chapel locations from previous owner Rob Johnson, according to a statement.

Basham is one of the original co-founders of Outback Steakhouse and currently owns Glory Days Grill franchises around the state and Barenaked Kitchen based in Tampa. McPherson is the CEO of Glory Days Florida and previously worked in several leadership roles during his twenty year tenure with Carrabba’s Italian Grill.