Happy Joe's
Pizza, pasta, ice cream, sandwiches, saladsBackground
Founded: 1972 Franchising since: 1973
Lawrence Joseph Whitty had worked in the bakery business for years before becoming an assistant manager at a Shakey's pizzeria. He decided to combine his baking skills with the experience he had gained from working at a pizza restaurant, where he would often hear families decide to go out for ice cream for dessert. Combining pizza and ice cream, Whitty opened the first Happy Joe's Pizza & Ice Cream Parlor in East Davenport, Iowa, in 1972. His signature item was the Happy Joe's Special, a pizza with Canadian bacon and sauerkraut that Whitty created from leftovers in his mother's kitchen. After a franchisee suggested adding tacos to the menu, Whitty created the restaurant's best-selling product, the Taco Pizza.
Franchisor is a privately-held company with 20 employee(s); 2 employee(s) in franchise department.
Franchise Growth
Where Seeking Franchisees
In the U.S. Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North carolina, North dakota, New hampshire, New jersey, New mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South carolina, Tennessee, Texas, United states, Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin, West virginia, Wyoming
Exclusive territories available.
Lawrence Joseph Whitty had worked in the bakery business for years before becoming an assistant manager at a Shakey's pizzeria. He decided to combine his baking skills with the experience he had gained from working at a pizza restaurant, where he would often hear families decide to go out for ice cream for dessert. Combining pizza and ice cream, Whitty opened the first Happy Joe's Pizza & Ice Cream Parlor in East Davenport, Iowa, in 1972. His signature item was the Happy Joe's Special, a pizza with Canadian bacon and sauerkraut that Whitty created from leftovers in his mother's kitchen. After a franchisee suggested adding tacos to the menu, Whitty created the restaurant's best-selling product, the Taco Pizza.
|
2705 Happy Joe Dr. Bettendorf, Iowa 52722 |
Phone: (563)332-8811
Franchisee Association
Happy Joe's National Franchise Board |
Franchisor is a privately-held company with 20 employee(s); 2 employee(s) in franchise department.
Franchise Growth
| Year | U.S. Franchises | Canadian Franchises | Foreign Franchises | Company Owned |
| 2009 | 48 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 2008 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2007 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2006 | 56 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 2005 | 57 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Where Seeking Franchisees
In the U.S. Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North carolina, North dakota, New hampshire, New jersey, New mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South carolina, Tennessee, Texas, United states, Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin, West virginia, Wyoming
Exclusive territories available.
Costs and Fees
|
Total investment: $113.8K-1.2M Franchise fee: $20K/25K |
Ongoing royalty fee: 4.5% Term of agreement: 15 years, renewable |
Type of Financing Available
| In-House | Third Party | |
| Franchise Fee | No | No |
| Startup Costs | No | No |
| Equipment | No | No |
| Inventory | No | No |
| Accounts Receivable | No | No |
| Payroll | No | No |
Qualifications
Cash liquidity requirement: $300K
Business Experience:
- General business experience
Operations
- 33% of all franchisees own more than one unit
- Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 45
- Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)
Training and Support
Training
Ongoing Support
Marketing Support
Other marketing support
- Available at headquarters: 6 weeks
Ongoing Support
- Newsletter
- Meetings
- Toll-free phone line
- Grand opening
- Internet
- Security/safety procedures
- Field operations/evaluations
- Purchasing cooperatives
Marketing Support
- Co-op advertising
- Ad slicks
- National media
- Regional advertising
Other marketing support
- Market research firm