The Hospitality Hangout
The Hospitality Hangout
Join Michael Schatzberg aka Schatzy (The Restaurant Guy) and Jimmy Frischling (The Finance Guy) on The Hospitality Hangout as they explore hospitality, food service, and investment trends while connecting with industry leaders. Each week, receive insider insights and funny stories that shape the hospitality landscape. They live at the intersection of hospitality, food service, technology, and investment, connecting the biggest players and boldest ideas shaping the industry.
Each week, they serve up funny, informative, and wildly entertaining conversations with the insiders who are leading a new era of hospitality. From emerging brands and breakthrough tech to industry trends and restaurant success stories, no topic is off the table.
It’s where the who’s who of hospitality hangs out – packed with expert insights, laugh-out-loud moments, and must-know trends that keep you ahead of the game.
🍽️ Tune in, grab a drink, and let’s talk shop! 🚀
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Oct. 27, 2026

Mellow Mushroom Refuses to Be Just Another Pizza Chain

Mellow Mushroom Refuses to Be Just Another Pizza Chain
Mellow Mushroom Refuses to Be Just Another Pizza Chain
The Hospitality Hangout
Mellow Mushroom Refuses to Be Just Another Pizza Chain

Mellow Mushroom’s next chapter includes counter service, better pizza ordering and plans for rewards beyond free food. Ahsan Jiva joins Schatzy and Jimmy on Hospitality Hangout to talk psychedelic art, Holy Shiitake, Mellow Rollz and keeping the brand’s personality as it evolves. Recorded on location in Atlanta.

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Psychedelic art, Holy Shiitake pizza and restaurants with personalities of their own. Mellow Mushroom has spent more than five decades giving people plenty to talk about over a pie. Now it’s adding new ways to order, visit and eventually earn rewards.

This episode of Hospitality Hangout features Ahsan Jiva, Executive Vice President of Strategy and Transformation at Mellow Mushroom. He joins Schatzy and Jimmy to share how college pizza nights at Auburn helped lead him from consulting to the restaurant business.

The conversation covers Mellow’s return to counter service, plans for Mellow Mushroom Rewards, and the kitchen technology helping teams give customers more accurate wait times. Ahsan also explains why art, merchandise and local personality matter, and why shared ghost kitchens don’t fit the experience he wants guests to have.

Plus, the guys taste Mellow Rollz, debate pineapple on pizza and discover Ahsan’s go-to order: Holy Shiitake with steak.

Episode Credits:

  • Produced by: Branded Hospitality Media
  • Hosted by: Michael Schatzberg, Jimmy Frischling
  • Producer: Julie Zucker
  • Creative Director: Adam Levine
  • Show Runner: Drewe Raimi
  • Post Production: Three Cheers Media

www.thehospitalityhangout.com


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