Happy Joe's facts for kids
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| Private | |
| Industry | Restaurant |
| Founded | 1972 in Bettendorf, Iowa |
| Founder | Lawrence Joseph "Happy Joe" Whitty |
| Headquarters | |
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Number of locations
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42 (2021) |
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Areas served
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Key people
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Thomas Sacco (CEO & President, Dynamic) |
| Products | |
| Owner | Dynamic Restaurant Holdings |
Happy Joe's is a popular American pizza chain that started in Bettendorf, Iowa. It was founded in 1972 by Lawrence Joseph "Happy Joe" Whitty. He used to manage a different pizza place called Shakey's Pizza. Happy Joe's is known for being a fun place that combines a pizza restaurant with an ice cream shop.
You can find Happy Joe's restaurants in many parts of the United States, especially in the Midwest and Florida. They also have a restaurant in Egypt, which opened in 2022. Happy Joe's plans to open many more locations in the Middle East and North Africa over the next ten years. In 2022, Happy Joe's faced some financial challenges. They had to close a few of their own stores, but most of their restaurants, which are run by different owners (franchises), were not affected.
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Happy Joe's Famous Food
Happy Joe's is famous for its unique and tasty food items. They offer more than just regular pizzas!
Taco Pizza
Happy Joe's claims to be the first pizza place to ever offer a taco pizza. This special pizza has a base of refried beans and tomato sauce. It's topped with cheese, fresh lettuce, tomatoes, and crunchy taco chips. The idea came from a franchisee who suggested adding tacos to the menu. "Happy Joe" Whitty then created this best-selling pizza!
Breakfast Pizza
Since 2005, some Happy Joe's locations have offered breakfast pizzas. Imagine having pizza for breakfast! These pizzas are made with breakfast ingredients.
Flatbread Pizza
In 2013, Happy Joe's added flatbread pizzas to their menu. These are thinner, crispier pizzas that offer a different kind of pizza experience.
Gluten-Free Crusts
Happy Joe's also cares about customers with special dietary needs. They offer gluten-free crusts. These are perfect for people who have gluten allergies and need to avoid gluten.
Joegurt
Joegurt is Happy Joe's special frozen dessert. It's a mix of ice cream and yogurt, making it creamy and delicious. You can find Joegurt at all Happy Joe's locations.
Happy Joe's History
Happy Joe's started in 1972 because of a birthday party! Lawrence Joseph "Happy Joe" Whitty was disciplined for throwing a child's birthday party at his old job. This inspired him to create his own restaurant where birthday parties would be a main focus.
Early Days and Expansion
From the very beginning, Happy Joe's was known for its fun birthday parties. It also became famous for its unique taco pizza and the special Joegurt.
In the 1980s, Happy Joe's even had a restaurant in Cairo, Egypt. It was shaped like a boat and was located right on the Nile River!
The chain grew steadily across the Midwestern United States. You can find Happy Joe's in Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Missouri, and Illinois, as well as their home state of Iowa.
Overcoming Challenges
Happy Joe's has faced some tough times. On April 13, 2006, a tornado destroyed the Happy Joe's in Iowa City, Iowa. Later, in 2008, a restaurant in Coralville was damaged by floods. But the Coralville location was rebuilt and is still open today!
New Concepts and Growth
In the mid-2010s, Happy Joe's introduced a new type of restaurant called Happy Joe's Pizza Grille. These locations offer traditional American food like Rubens, along with their famous pizza and Joegurt. They also have a small buffet where you can try different pizzas.
Happy Joe's used to have two stores in Arizona that are now closed. However, they plan to open more restaurants in Arizona in the future.
On October 29, 2019, Lawrence Joseph "Happy Joe" Whitty, the founder, passed away at 82 years old.
Future Plans
Happy Joe's is planning big expansions. In 2022, they announced plans to open at least 25 new restaurants in the Middle East and North Africa over the next ten years. The first new international location opened in Cairo, Egypt, where they had a restaurant before.
They are also expanding in the United States. Happy Joe's now has two restaurants in Florida, which are their first in the Southern U.S. They also plan to open new stores in Branson, and the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex in Texas. The Texas location will be their first franchise owned by a minority group.
See also
