Happy Joe’s is an American pizza parlor chain based in Bettendorf, Iowa, in Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, and West Virginia. The company was founded in 1972 by Joseph Whitty, who opened the first location in a land-locked farm building. Happy Joe’s serves traditional American pizzas and other foods, including:

Breadsticks, pasta salad, hot dogs, and fries. Happy Joe’s is known for allowing patrons to order as many different ingredients as they like on a pizza by including them in the price of the pie, which is sold by weight. They use only fresh ingredients and organic vegetables. Happy Joe’s is known for selling some of the cheapest pizzas in the country. In 2007, a 7-inch pizza cost less than $3 to make.

In 2016 Happy Joe’s was featured as a “pizza place that’s really making a difference” by The Nation Magazine. This latter wrote “American style pizzerias do an important job in educating kids and adults about good eating habits; It’s time they got some recognition.” Happy Joe’s was featured in an article on “The Daily Show” with Jon Stewart on February 4, 2009. 

Another segment regularly airs on local televisions in Washington DC, and the channel was profiled on an episode of “My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding.” In addition to its social mission and affordable menu, Happy Joe’s has been noted for its unique marketing (Twitter). 

The chain is one of the few to use extensive billboard advertising and television ads featuring Peter Fonda and customer Randy West. Happy Joe’s was featured in an April 9, 2010 episode of “Shark Tank” as an upstart. The company’s co-founder, Lawrence “Larry” Whitty, explained how Happy Joe’s could afford to sell pizzas below the standard price of a typical store.