Veteran restaurateur Thomas Sacco has been named the new CEO, president and Chief Happiness Officer for two restaurant brands owned by Dynamic Restaurant Holdings: Happy Joe’s Pizza & Ice Cream Parlors, a Midwest pizza chain known for its Taco Joe pizza, and Tony Sacco’s Coal Oven Kitchen, with locations in Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan.

Sacco, who has 30-plus years of experience in the restaurant industry, joined the company in October and hit the ground running with the goal of national expansion for both chains through aggressive franchising efforts.

Sacco led the image refresh and revitalized franchised growth at Ponderosa Steakhouse & Buffet and Bonanza Family Restaurant. He was also instrumental in the national expansion of Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, and Ghirardelli Chocolate & Ice Cream Shoppes.

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Happy Joe’s, a fast-casual Top 200 concept, offers a family-friendly experience, which includes unique pizza creations, pasta, wings, salads, appetizers and old-fashioned hand-dipped ice cream, as well as a Family Fun Center for kids of all ages to play games and win prizes.zz

Tony Sacco’s offers full-service casual dining, including hand-crafted, coal-fired pizzas, pastas, burgers and appetizers, along with salads and panini sandwiches in an exhibition-kitchen setting.

“I am extremely excited and honored to work with two unique, fan-favorite concepts that are so different but … compete extremely well in different pizza segments of the restaurant industry,” Sacco said in a press release. “Both brands offer great growth and financial potential to the hundreds of markets across America where ‘Happy Places’ are needed, especially during these depressing COVID-19 times. When unit sales are up during a pandemic, which we are experiencing, you know your brands are winners!”

Sacco’s recent appointment and commitment to growth at both Happy Joe’s and Tony Sacco’s has already sparked a heightened interest from potential franchisees across the country, the company said. Special financial concessions are being offered for conversions from other concepts during the pandemic.

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