Happy Joe’s has a new local ownership group, with Quad Cities investors taking over the pizza and ice cream brand.
The acquisition covers the franchising company and three company-owned restaurants in Bettendorf and Davenport, Iowa, according to a Sept. 30 company announcement reported by the Quad Cities Regional Business Journal.
Carlos Araujo has been named president. He previously served as the company’s director of operations and has worked with the ownership group operating restaurants.
The investors’ names and purchase price were not disclosed in that report. Happy Joe’s confirms the acquisition on its website, and its franchise newsroom features the local coverage.
The new owners plan to start with the food itself: making dough, toppings and portions more consistent across the system. They also plan menu additions, family bundles and lunch options while keeping favorites such as taco pizza.
Other priorities include investment in the company-owned restaurants, renewed attention to birthday parties, and more training and reporting support for franchisees.
The headquarters will remain in the Quad Cities, the Business Journal reported.
For guests, the practical changes will arrive through restaurant execution and future menu updates. The announcement describes those priorities without setting a uniform rollout date for every location.
