Happy Joe’s CEO Tom Sacco talks about the pizza chain’s America 250 celebration, which includes patriotic menu items, parties and cash prizes for families.
Happy Joe’s Pizza & Ice Cream is getting a makeover 250th America birthday on a summer holiday.
Davenport, Iowa restaurant chain — which has three company-owned restaurants, 35 franchise locations domestically and nine international in Egypt — is rolling out patriotic menu items, family-friendly parties and raffles to mark the nation’s centennial and a half.
Tom Sacco, Happy Joe’s CEO, president and “chief happiness officer,” said the company is true to the brand’s roots.
“Who better in this country to throw a birthday party for ordinary old people American people than at Happy Joe’s?” Sacco told FOX Business. “Because that’s who we are.”
From May 15 through August 15, guests who purchase a specialty pizza and Mountain Dew at participating locations can enter the Freedom Flyaway Sweepstakes for a chance to win one of three $3,000 trips to Washington, DC
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Tom Sacco, Happy Joe’s CEO, president and “chief happiness officer,” said the company is true to the brand’s roots. (FOX Business/Happy Joe’s)
The raffle was originally tied solely to a trip to Washington, D.C., but Sacco said winners can also take the money and use it in a way that will best help their families.
“If the celebration gives them … financial freedom to not be burdened by some of the expensive things that have happened in the last four or five years … If that’s what makes you happy because mom doesn’t have to worry about paying for daycare in the summer or something, then that’s a big win,” Sacco said.
The promotion also includes weekly Mountain Dew prize packs of pickleball paddles, chairs, blankets, Happy Joe apparel and gift cards.
Happy Joe’s is also hosting an AMERICA250 Block Party on June 29th from 4-8pm with games, trivia, music, giveaways and free slices of red, white and blue birthday cake.
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Through August 15, guests who purchase specialty pizza and Mountain Dew at participating locations can enter the Freedom Flyaway Sweepstakes for a chance to win one of three $3,000 trips to Washington, DC. (Happy Joe)
Some locations will have activities like bounce houses, face painting, balloon making and patriotic trivia related to both U.S. and Happy Joe history, Sacco said.
“We’re just going to do fun things like that,” Sacco said. “… We can play a game and make it patriotic, but tie it in with Happy Joe’s stuff.”
The limited-time menu includes brisket barbecue pizza Texas smoked brisketpickles, onions and BBQ sauce, BBQ chicken pizza and AMERICA250 birthday cake covered in red, white and blue frosting and sprinkles.
Sacco said Happy Joe’s is leaning toward what it has long been known for: birthday parties, families and memorable meals.
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The brand is also hosting an AMERICA250 Block Party on June 29 from 4:00pm to 8:00pm with games, trivia, music, giveaways and free slices of red, white and blue birthday cake. (Happy Joe)
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“We don’t compete on price. We don’t compete on discount. We compete on experience,” Sacco said. “Pizza gets you in the door. When you leave, we’ve created a memory. And that’s how we work.”
He added that the campaign gives the brand an opportunity to celebrate the country’s important birthday with families in all markets.
“For me, the 250 is the biggest national celebration I’ve ever been a part of,” Sacco said. “Thanks to Happy Joe’s, I have the opportunity to share this with hundreds of thousands of our guests and their families across the country.”
