Starscapes home-based business opportunity

FRANCHISE FRENZY

SLICE OF HAPPINESS

Low-key pizza biz unveils new design & annual sales of hot $43 million.

Happy Joe’s strategically tested its Caféz at various Midwest locations before cementing the Rockford deal, Larry Whitty said. “The approval rate has been phenomenal,” he said. “Our guests say they enjoy the new décor. We also enhanced our fun centers to provide kids with more entertainment options, and parents love it.”

Happy Joe’s is specifically targeting Madison and Milwaukee, WI; St. Louis and Kansas City, MO; Kansas City, KS; Minneapolis and Rochester, MN; Omaha and Lincoln, NE and the western Chicago suburbs for development, and is receptive to opening other multi-unit areas as well.

Innovation has always been key to Happy Joe’s success. Before “Happy Joe” Whitty opened his first restaurant, he managed a local pizzeria, and noticed that after people ate, they would venture to the local ice cream parlor for dessert. That observation led “Happy Joe” to take the innovative step of offering ice cream to his guests, and eliminating the need for guests to go elsewhere.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Happy Joe’s is more than just a restaurant; it’s an experience. With 65 locations, most equipped for kids, world-class menus, and the convenience of delivery/carryout and pickup window service of all menu items, Happy Joe’s has been a leader in the family restaurant market for over 33 years. For systemwide sales, in 2004 Happy Joe’s had $43,325,000 in total chain revenue. And the projected number for 2005 is $45,497,000.

Happy Joe’s has 64 units and a new Caféz location scheduled to open this fall. The estimated cost of a full-size unit is $825,000 - $1,205,000
The size is: 3,500 - 5,700 square feet
Number of seats: 125 - 200
Minimum Lot Size is 1.25 acres
Visit www.happyjoes.com for more information.

Joe Whitty sat on the board of several local community organizations. He offered his restaurant as a meeting place and brought in donuts and coffee. One day, someone suggested that the group meet at a restaurant that offered a breakfast menu. That inspired “Happy Joe” to create an early morning breakfast line, including the popular omelet pizza, freshly baked cinnamon and caramel pecan nut rolls, breakfast skillet dishes and gourmet coffees.

Happy Joe’s menu features its famous original Taco Pizza and other unique pizzas such as the BLT and Canadian bacon and sauerkraut pizzas. The new Happy Joe’s Caféz menu has been expanded to include hot Panini sandwiches, freshly made salads, upgraded bottled beers and wines and their new Mix’ns ice cream concept for dessert. In June, Happy Joe’s added a Chipotle line of pizzas, hot Panini sandwiches, salads and pastas to its menu.

“We have always been open to new menu ideas,” Happy Joe Whitty said. “Thirty years ago a Happy Joe’s franchisee wanted to add tacos to his menu. I told him he couldn’t because we’re not a taco place, but promised that I would come up with a better idea that fit our pizza concept. After a trip to the local grocery store and a little time in the kitchen, the first Taco Pizza was born.”

An ideal franchisee candidate for Happy Joe’s is committed to community and has an entrepreneurial spirit, Larry Whitty said. “We treat our franchisees the same as we do our communities—with respect and fairness,” Larry Whitty said. “A Happy Joe’s franchisee pays only a 4.5 percent royalty, furthering our dedication to our franchisees.”

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