09/30/2026
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Carlos Araujo, President, [email protected]
Local Investor Group Acquires Happy Joe's; Carlos Araujo Named President
New Quad Cities ownership commits to the food, the restaurants, and the franchise owners that made the brand a Midwest tradition.
DAVENPORT, Iowa (September 30, 2026) - A group of Quad Cities investors has acquired Happy Joe's Pizza & Ice Cream, including the brand's franchising company and its three company-owned restaurants in Bettendorf and Davenport. Carlos Araujo, an executive with the ownership group, has been named President and will lead the company.
The new ownership said it is building on what already makes Happy Joe's special, and that its early work will focus on the fundamentals 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 fifty years, and that is not something you take lightly,” said Araujo. “This is a brand people love, and our job is to take great care of it. Great food every visit, restaurants 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.”
Areas of early focus 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 the 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.
About Happy Joe's
Happy Joe's Pizza & Ice Cream opened its first restaurant on November 16, 1972, when founder Joe Whitty combined a pizzeria and an ice cream parlor in Davenport, Iowa. Whitty introduced the taco pizza in 1974, and it remains the brand's best-selling item. Happy Joe's operates franchised and company-owned restaurants across the Midwest and is known for its pizza, its ice cream, and the birthday parties that generations of families in the region grew up with. More information is available at happyjoes.com.
