President’s Message

Tom Sacco – Chief Happiness Officer, CEO & President

Happy Joe's Pizza President & CEO Tom Sacco

30+ Year Restaurant Executive

Thomas Sacco, a 30+ year restaurant executive is the new transformational CEO, Chief Happiness Officer and President of the iconic Happy Joe’s Pizza & Ice Cream Parlor restaurant brand. Our Midwest pizza chain has earned the reputation for having a cult-like following as the originator of the famous Taco Joe Pizza and Happy Joe’s Special Pizza. Mr. Sacco hit the ground running with the goal of national and international expansion for Happy Joe’s restaurant chain through the modernizing and refreshing of the brand, updated technology enhancements, innovative menu R&D, “Best in Class” operational execution, and aggressive franchising efforts.

President & CEO Tom Sacco of Happy Joe's Pizza. Tom Sacco in front of Happy Joe's Fond du Lac
Happy Joe’s concept, a Fast Casual “Top 200”, Franchise Times “Top 400”, and Nation’s Restaurant News “The Top 500”, has an extremely loyal following as noted in Bon Appetit’s celebrated series on “America’s Favorite Regional Restaurants”.

Happy Joe’s offers a fun, family-friendly experience that includes unique, high-quality pizza creations, pasta offerings, wings, dessert pizzas, breakfast pizzas, cinnamon rolls and burritos, gourmet salads, tasty appetizers, and an old-fashioned, soda fountain serving hand-dipped ice cream cones, oversized sundaes, floats, and milkshakes, as well as a Family Fun Center for kids of all ages to play games and win prizes. The restaurant offers breakfast, lunch, brunch, and dinner, along with delivery, carryout, drive-thru, and catering services. Happy Joe’s continues to outperform the restaurant industry during these turbulent Covid-19 times.

Young girl playing Hammerhead Shark Game
Happy Joe's Pizza Gift Card

Tom Sacco is extremely passionate and enthusiastic about this time-honored brand and has enjoyed spreading the word across the US and globally on such a unique, fan-favorite concept that is so different and devoutly loved by all.

Happy Joe’s competes extremely well across all the pizza segments of the restaurant industry but is so much more than just a pizza concept. The Happy Joe’s brand offers great growth and financial potential to the thousands of communities across America where “Happy Places” are needed, especially during the stressful Covid-19 times. When our unit sales are up double digits during a pandemic, which Happy Joe’s is experiencing, you know your brand is a winner!”


Sacco’s commitment to growth at Happy Joe’s has sparked a heightened interest from potential franchisees across the country, with special financial concessions being offered to new franchisees, for programs specifically focusing on:

  • Conversions from another restaurant concept during Covid-19.
  • Veterans – where a majority is owned by Veterans of all U.S. Military.
  • Minorities – where a majority is owned by Black, Hispanic, Native American, or Asian minorities.
  • Female Owned – where a majority is owned by a Female.

Over Mr. Sacco’s career, he has led the image refresh and revitalization and the franchised growth at Ponderosa Steakhouse & Buffet and Bonanza Family Restaurants, both domestically and internationally, for both legacy brands. In addition, Sacco was instrumental in the national expansion of Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, and Ghirardelli Chocolate & Ice Cream Shoppes.

President & CEO Tom Sacco standing in front of a Happy Joe's.

Vision Statement

Happy Joe’s will exceed its guests’ expectations in a manner that creates word-of-mouth praise, leading to an emotional connection to the restaurant brand like no other, which will propel Happy Joe’s into infinite success.

Two women eating a sundae and milk shake.
I love pizza in ASL

Core Values

Happy Joe’s has established the following core values to steer our leadership and guide our team members.

  • Servant’s Heart
  • Warrior’s Spirit
  • Enjoy What You Do
  • Quality Focused
  • Risk-Taking
  • Life Balance
  • Community Involvement