Happy Joe’s Pizza & Ice Cream has been a staple in the Midwest since Joe Whitty—the original Happy Joe—founded it in Davenport, Iowa, in 1972. Now the family-friendly brand is under new ownership in a surprising move announced today.
A group of Quad Cities investors has acquired Happy Joe’s, including its franchising company and its three company-owned restaurants in Bettendorf and Davenport, according to a press release.
Carlos Araujo, an executive with the ownership group, has been named president and will lead the company. Araujo has extensive experience as a restaurant operator.
The owners said they will keep building on what already makes Happy Joe’s special to families and children across the Midwest. Their early work will focus on the fundamentals that guests and franchise owners care about most, with changes introduced thoughtfully over time.
“Happy Joe’s has meant something to families in this region for more than 50 years, and that is not something you take lightly,” Araujo said. “This is a brand people love, and our job is to take great care of it. Great food every visit, restaurants that families are proud to bring their kids to, and birthday parties that create the same memories for the next generation that so many of us grew up with—that is where the work starts.”
Restaurant industry veteran Tom Sacco came out of retirement to take over as Happy Joe’s CEO in 2021. He told PMQ in 2025 that he actually tried to talk the company out of choosing him for the role. “[My wife] did not want me going back to work,” he said, “and I tried everything I could to not have them hire me.”
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But Happy Joe’s then-parent company, Dynamic Restaurant Holdings, was looking for a transformational leader for the brand, which had struggled since Whitty passed away in 2019. Over the next few years, Sacco guided Happy Joe’s through a new period of expansion that included opening stores outside the Midwest—in states like Florida and Arizona—and as far away as Cairo, Alexandria and Giza, Egypt.
Happy Joe’s reported wrapping up 2024, its 52nd year in business, with record-breaking franchise growth. A location that opened in Navarre, Florida, in April 2025 shattered a sales record for a new Happy Joe’s franchise opening, grossing $91,000 during its first week.
For the brand’s new owners, according to the press release, areas of early focus will include:
- Great food on every visit, with the same care for dough, toppings and portions at every location
- Menu updates that celebrate the classics, including Happy Joe’s iconic taco pizza, while adding new items, family bundles and lunch options
- Investing in the company-owned restaurants to make them even more welcoming
- Growing the birthday party experience that generations of families have loved
- Expanded support for franchise owners, including operator training and clearer store-level reporting
“Franchise owners are the heart of this brand. They know their markets and their guests better than anyone,” Araujo said. “Our job is to be a franchisor that is engaged, available and in their corner, so that every Happy Joe’s has what it needs to thrive.”
Kari White, who owns the Happy Joe’s franchise in Clinton, Iowa, said the change is exciting news for operators. “Our guests love this brand, and they tell us every day what Happy Joe’s means to their families,” White said. “That is what I am excited about—celebrating the original taste and the quality this brand was built on, with a team behind us that is all in. As a franchisee, I am ready to put the Happy back in Joe’s.”
The ownership group said naming Araujo was its first decision after reaching agreement on the transaction. He has operated restaurants alongside members of the group for a little over a year and brings extensive operating experience across several restaurant brands.
The company will remain headquartered in the Quad Cities, where it was founded. Additional announcements regarding the menu, the restaurants and franchise development are expected in the months ahead.
