GoKawiilQuad Cities investors buy Happy Joe's Pizza & Ice Cream franchise business
A group of Quad Cities investors has acquired Happy Joe's Pizza & Ice Cream's franchising company along with three company-owned restaurants in Iowa, financial terms undisclosed. The 54-year-old chain, founded in Davenport in 1972, once had about 100 locations but now operates 34 in the U.S. and six in Egypt after a 2022 bankruptcy filing. New president Carlos Araujo plans to focus first on food consistency, then menu updates and expanded birthday party offerings, along with better franchisee training and reporting.