After westward expansion, the iconic pizza brand is growing in the northeast
Hot off the heels of announcing a mega expansion across the southwestern U.S., Happy Joe’s Pizza & Ice Cream is now set to expand into Illinois with a new franchise agreement. The deal will introduce multiple Happy Joe’s locations across the area, bringing the brand’s signature pizzas and ice cream to even more fans in The Prairie State. While Happy Joe’s has several units in Illinois, this new agreement will increase the brand’s footprint in the state. The franchisee is currently looking forward to opening this new location.
This move is part of Happy Joe’s ongoing strategy to increase brand presence in key U.S. regions, reinforcing its goal of being a dominant player in the American pizza market. With other deals and new store openings in Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Minnesota, and Florida, Happy Joe’s expansion strategy is paying off big time for the brand that found its initial success in the Midwest. In 2024 alone, the brand signed on 22 new units with the Illinois agreement being the most recent.
“We’re beyond excited to bring the fun, family-friendly atmosphere of Happy Joe’s to new locations in Illinois,” Happy Joe’s CEO and Chief Happiness Officer Tom Sacco said. “This expansion represents a crucial milestone in our brand’s growth, and we look forward to creating lasting memories for families across the state.”
The new locations will serve the brand’s classic offerings, including its famous Taco Joe pizza, the Lollapalooza pepperoni pizza and other Midwestern-inspired pies. Happy Joe’s is committed to delivering joyful dining experiences with every slice.
For more information about Happy Joe’s, visit HappyJoesFranchising.com. For information on starting a Happy Joe’s Pizza franchise, contact Kat Davidson at KatD@drhnow.com or call 678.485.8413.
Founded in 1972 by Joe Whitty in Davenport, Iowa, Happy Joe’s dream was to create a restaurant concept that focused on serving America’s two favorite foods – pizza and ice cream – in a family-friendly, celebratory environment. Owned and operated by Dynamic Restaurant Holdings Inc., Happy Joe’s has been named a FastCasual “Top 200” concept, Franchise Times “Top 400” business, and Nation’s Restaurant News “Top 500” restaurant. The family-centric, child entertainment franchise pizza brand has eight company-owned and 34 franchise locations throughout the Midwest with more in the pipeline. To learn more, visit HappyJoes.com, or follow Happy Joe’s on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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