Happy Joe's
The Happy Joe’s Pizza & Ice Cream restaurant concept focuses on serving America’s two favorite foods—pizza and ice cream—in a festive, family-friendly environment.
Each location offers full-service dining; a Family Fun Center; and delivery, drive-thru, and carryout service. Other offerings include gift cards, “Ship a Pizza,” and catering services.
Happy Joe’s has been included in QSR Magazine’s Top 50 Contenders, Fast Casual’s “Top 200,” Franchise Times’s “Top 400,” and Nation’s Restaurant News’s “Top 500.”
History[edit]
Happy Joe’s was initially envisioned as a “fun for the whole family” combination pizza parlor/ice cream palace. Its first location opened its doors in 1972. Today, the iconic restaurant brand comprises more than 60 locations. The company celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022. The same year, the brand reached several additional milestones, including a new building design, updated branding and website, and technological advancements, including a new loyalty app and online ordering. Since its founding, this Midwestern pizza and ice cream chain has been featured in Bon Appétit, Business Insider, The Business Journals, and other publications.
Mission[edit]
Founder Lawrence Joseph "Happy Joe" Whitty opened Happy Joe’s with the vision of creating a family-friendly environment for dining, celebrating special events, and more. Today, a family-centric culture rooted in family values remains the anchor of the brand. While families are the main target market, the company also welcomes school and community groups with the same hospitality. Its goal is to create lifelong magical memories for all of its guests.
Vision Statement[edit]
Happy Joe’s will exceed its guests’ expectations in a manner that creates word-of-mouth praise, leading to an emotional connection to the restaurant brand like no other, which will propel Happy Joe’s into infinite success.
Core Values[edit]
The company’s seven core values include Servant’s Heart, Warrior’s Spirit, Enjoy What You Do, Quality Focused, Risk-Taking, Life Balance, and Community Involvement.
Locations[edit]
Based in Bettendorf, Iowa, Happy Joe’s has locations across the United States’ Midwestern, Northern Plains, and Southern regions. Locations can also be found in the Middle East in Egypt, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the U.A.E.
One of its most noteworthy locations was a boat-shaped restaurant situated on the Nile River in Cairo, Egypt.
Special Events[edit]
In addition to offering full-service dine-in and carry-out/delivery, Happy Joe’s is also an entertainment venue specializing in fun and festive children’s birthday parties.
Franchises[edit]
As a combination restaurant/entertainment venue, Happy Joe’s provides unique franchise opportunities. It boasts a proven 50-year business model and a robust network of profitable franchises. Some of the company’s product offerings include breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, special events, full-size dine-in, and delivery/carry-out.
Philanthropy[edit]
Happy Joe’s operates according to the motto, “Do the right thing for the right reason—Servant’s Heart.”
Giving back is built into the company concept; all franchisees are required to include a philanthropic component.
Founder[edit]
Happy Joe’s was founded by Lawrence Joseph Whitty, a former manager at Shakey’s Pizza. died at age 82 at the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice Center on October 29, 2019. However, his legacy lives on through his company’s commitment to philanthropy, community service, and high-quality pizza.
Leadership[edit]
Tom Sacco is the CEO, Chief Happiness Officer, and President of Happy Joe’s. He brings more than 30 years of experience as a restaurant executive to leading this time-honored brand through a refreshing and modernization.
Before joining the Happy Joe’s team, Sacco led image revitalizations and franchised growth at two other legacy brands: Ponderosa Steakhouse & Buffet and Bonanza Family Restaurants. Sacco also played a pivotal role in the national expansions of Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, and Ghirardelli Chocolate & Ice Cream Shoppes.
Menu[edit]
The menu features a combination of traditional and novelty pizzas, baked pasta entrees, wings, and other tasty appetizers, inventive sandwiches, and salads “with a twist.” The dessert menu features an old-fashioned soda fountain offering hand-dipped ice cream cones, oversized sundaes, floats, and milkshakes.
Signature Items[edit]
Taco Joe Pizza[edit]
Happy Joe’s claims to have originated the “taco pizza” concept when one of its franchisees suggested the addition of tacos to the menu after noticing the popularity of a nearby taqueria. And so the Taco Joe Pizza was born. It’s since become the restaurant’s most popular pizza with a “cult-like” following. The “Taco Joe” features taco-themed toppings, including refried beans, tomato sauce, cheese, lettuce, tomato, and taco chips. (It’s also available in “Supreme” with the addition of sour cream, black olives, and onions.)
Happy Joe’s Special[edit]
If the combination of pizza, Canadian bacon, and sauerkraut sounds like an accident, that’s because it was. Company founder Whitty stumbled upon this creation while testing out dough recipes at his mother’s house. He was undeterred when he found only Canadian bacon and sauerkraut in the fridge for toppings. Today, the Happy Joe’s Special is one of the brand’s most beloved pizzas.
Joegurt (discontinued)[edit]
Happy Joe’s has also been known for “Joegurt,” its signature ice cream product that has since been discontinued. Combining ice cream and yogurt, Joegurt was exclusively available at all Happy Joe’s restaurant locations. It was never sold in any other restaurants, grocery stores, or markets.
Other Specialties[edit]
Other specialties include breakfast pizza, flatbread pizza, and gluten-free crusts for diners with gluten allergies.
