Happy Joe’s Pizza & Ice Cream Breaks Into Texas With Multi-Unit DFW Franchise Agreement
BB3 Hospitality Co., led by Jeremy and Elizabeth Aune, signs on for multiple new locations across Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant counties
Davenport, IA (Restaurant News Release) Happy Joe’s Pizza & Ice Cream, the iconic restaurant concept rooted in nostalgia and celebrations, has signed a new multi-unit franchise agreement with BB3 Hospitality Co. to bring multiple locations to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. The expansion will mark the brand’s Texas debut, with the first location expected to open late 2027.
The deal marks a milestone moment for Happy Joe’s, which has spent more than 50 years building a loyal following across the Midwest and is now introducing its traditions to the Lone Star State. Known for its signature menu – including the fan-favorite Taco Pizza and Smoked BBQ Brisket Pizza, hand-tossed specialty pies, wings, and ice cream treats – the brand pairs family dining with a party atmosphere designed to bring people together and create lifelong memories.
BB3 Hospitality Co. is led by husband-and-wife team Jeremy and Elizabeth Aune, seasoned entrepreneurs. For Jeremy, the partnership carries a personal connection: he grew up on Happy Joe’s in the Quad Cities, where the brand got its start. Elizabeth’s enthusiasm for the opportunity grew through conversations with Tom Sacco, President and Chief Happiness Officer at Happy Joe’s, whose passion for the concept’s legacy reinforced that Happy Joe’s was the right fit for the family’s next venture.
“Seeing BB3 Hospitality Co. sign on for multiple locations across Dallas-Fort Worth is exactly the kind of momentum we hoped for when we opened up Texas for development,” said Tom Sacco, President and Chief Happiness Officer at Happy Joe’s. “DFW is one of the fastest-growing markets in the country, with the population growth and family demographics we look for, and a family like the Aunes is who you want carrying that torch into a new state. I can’t wait to watch what they build – and I’ve got a feeling our Taco Pizza and Smoked BBQ Brisket Pizza are going to feel right at home in Texas.”
As Area Developers, the Aunes will oversee expansion efforts across Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant counties, with the ability to bring on additional franchisees within their assigned territory. The first Happy Joe’s under the new agreement is expected in late 2027, with additional locations to follow as the group builds out its multi-unit commitment.
For more information about Happy Joe’s, visit HappyJoesFranchising.com. For information on starting a Happy Joe’s Pizza franchise, contact Kat Davidson at KatD@drhnow.com or call 678.485.8413.
About Happy Joe’s Pizza & Ice Cream
Founded in 1972 by Joe Whitty in Davenport, Iowa, Happy Joe’s dream was to create a restaurant concept that focused on serving America’s two favorite foods – pizza and ice cream – in a family-friendly, celebratory environment. Owned and operated by Dynamic Restaurant Holdings Inc., Happy Joe’s has been named a Pizza Marketplace “Top 25” pizza brand, FastCasual “Top 200” concept, Franchise Times “Top 400” business, and Nation’s Restaurant News “Top 500” restaurant. The family-centric, children’s-entertainment pizza franchise has three company-owned locations, 9 international locations throughout Egypt, and 35 domestic franchised locations throughout the Midwest and Southwest, with a Mendota Heights, Minnesota, location opening this summer and more in the pipeline. To learn more, visit HappyJoes.com or follow Happy Joe’s on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Contact:
Alex Frye
Champion
214-641-0746
afrye@championmgt.com
