Happy Joe's
| Company type | Franchise |
|---|---|
| Industry | Food and beverage |
| Founded | 1972 |
| Founder | Lawrence Joseph "Happy Joe" Whitty |
| Headquarters | Bettendorf, Iowa , United States |
Area served | Upper Midwest, Florida, Egypt, Middle East, North Africa |
| Products | Pizza, ice cream (Joegurt), birthday parties |
| Parent | Dynamic Restaurant Holdings |
Happy Joe's is a United States-based pizza franchise headquartered in Bettendorf, Iowa. Established in 1972 by Lawrence Joseph "Happy Joe" Whitty, who previously managed at Shakey's Pizza, the brand mainly serves the Upper Midwest and Florida regions. Since October 2022, it has also expanded internationally with a presence in Egypt. In 2022, Happy Joe's unveiled a strategic initiative to grow by launching a minimum of 25 new outlets throughout the Middle East and North Africa, focusing on countries such as Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The company distinguishes itself by pairing its pizza menu with ice cream selections.
On September 15, 2022, Dynamic Restaurant Holdings—the parent company of Happy Joe's—filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which led to the shutdown of several corporate-run locations; nevertheless, franchised stores continue to operate.
History
Lawrence Joseph "Happy Joe" Whitty founded Happy Joe's Pizza in 1972 following his reprimand for organizing a child's birthday celebration while employed at Shakey's Pizza. The chain placed a strong emphasis on birthday parties and introduced its well-known taco pizza—touted as the first of its kind—along with Joegurt, an ice cream blended yogurt product.
During the 1980s, Happy Joe's featured an unusual venue in Cairo, Egypt: a boat-shaped restaurant situated on the Nile River. The chain expanded throughout the Midwest with establishments in Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Missouri, Illinois, and Iowa.
The Iowa City location was destroyed by a tornado in 2006; similarly, a Coralville site was lost to flooding in 2008 but was later rebuilt and resumed operations.
In the mid-2010s, Happy Joe's debuted Happy Joe's Pizza Grille, which offered classic American dishes such as Reuben sandwiches alongside their signature pizzas and Joegurt. This concept also included a modest pizza buffet.
Although the company once operated two stores in Arizona that have since closed, it intends to re-enter that market with new store openings planned.
Founder Happy Joe Whitty passed away on October 29, 2019, at age 82.
In 2022, Happy Joe's announced ambitious international growth plans targeting at least 25 new restaurants over a decade across Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE—starting with Cairo where it had prior operations.
Within the United States, the chain runs two restaurants in Florida—their initial locations in the Southern region—and has future expansion plans including Branson, Missouri (marking their first site outside the St. Louis metropolitan area), an additional St. Louis area outlet, and a new store in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan region. Prospective Texas locations under consideration include Grand Prairie, Cedar Hill, and Arlington. This forthcoming Texas franchise will be Happy Joe’s first minority-owned franchise and represents a significant milestone in their growth strategy.
Taco pizza
The taco pizza was first introduced by Joseph Whitty's "Happy Joe's," combining refried beans and tomato sauce with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and crunchy taco chips. This innovative creation came about after a franchisee proposed incorporating tacos, leading Whitty to develop what has become one of the company's most popular menu items and a staple offering.
Breakfast pizza
In 2005, Happy Joe's broadened its menu by launching breakfast pizzas at select locations. This move was part of a broader effort to diversify the menu and appeal to a wider range of customers.
Flatbread pizza
The addition of flatbread pizzas in 2013 expanded the menu options further, responding to changing consumer preferences and enhancing overall variety.
Gluten-free crusts
To meet dietary restrictions and attract a broader customer base, Happy Joe's provides gluten-free crust options designed for guests with gluten sensitivities.
Birthday parties
A unique aspect of Happy Joe's customer experience is its themed birthday parties, which draw inspiration from founder Joe Whitty’s early career in management and have become a hallmark of the brand’s engagement approach.
Joegurt
Joegurt, the chain’s exclusive ice cream and yogurt fusion, is offered at all locations including Pizza Grille outlets. Although it is not sold in retail grocery stores, it remains an important part of the brand’s distinctive product lineup and helps foster customer loyalty.