Happy Joe’s Pizza is here to stay. That’s according to the current general manager and soon-to-be franchise owner of the Galesburg pizza restaurant.
The positive news comes during what’s been turbulent times for the restaurant known for its taco pizza. In recent weeks, the Bettendorf, Iowa-based restaurant chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware. Happy Joe’s also has closed several stores in Iowa.
Currently a corporate-owned store, the Galesburg Happy Joe’s – located at 1727 N. Henderson St. – will become a franchise-owned restaurant when Leslie Boynton takes over Sept. 30. Boynton has been at the Galesburg Happy Joe’s for eight years, the last two as general manager.
Boynton knows there has been trepidation recently about the future of Happy Joe’s. She said some customers even stopped in to get what they thought was their final Happy Joe’s meal.
But Boynton tells WGIL, “We’re not going anywhere — I can’t express that enough. We’re here to stay.”
Boynton said she hopes new local ownership will settle any rumors of Happy Joe’s leaving Galesburg, and she expects business to pick up.
“Happy Joe’s is still thriving,” Boynton said. “We’re expanding to Florida and Branson and even Egypt. With over 50 years of memories, our fan base is huge. They just had to get some bad business taken care of.”
The company’s two franchising entities — Happy Joe’s Franchising and Tony Sacco’s Franchising — were not part of the bankruptcy filing. The company issued a press release on Sept. 2 saying that none of Happy Joe’s 44 franchised locations would be affected.
Boynton said she will soon extend the lease for the Galesburg Happy Joe’s location.
“We’re working on a 15-year lease, so we’re not going anywhere for at least 15 years,” she said.
The Galesburg Happy Joe’s restaurant employees 29 people.
