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Happy Joe's Pizza & Ice Cream to make Texas debut

Photo: Happy Joe's Pizza & Ice Cream

July 15, 2026

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Happy Joe's Pizza & Ice Cream has inked a multi-unit franchise agreement to expand into the Dallas-Fort Worth area, marking the brand's debut in Texas, according to a press release.

The agreement with BB3 Hospitality Co. includes plans for multiple locations across Collin, Dallas, Denton and Tarrant counties. The first restaurant is scheduled to open in late 2027.

Led by Jeremy and Elizabeth Aune, BB3 Hospitality Co. will serve as area developers, overseeing expansion efforts and bringing on additional franchisees within their territory. Jeremy Aune grew up eating at the Midwest-based chain, which has spent more than 50 years building a following for its pizza and ice cream treats.

"Seeing BB3 Hospitality Co. sign on for multiple locations across Dallas-Fort Worth is exactly the kind of momentum we hoped for when we opened up Texas for development," Tom Sacco, president and chief happiness officer at Happy Joe's, said in the press release. "DFW is one of the fastest-growing markets in the country, with the population growth and family demographics we look for, and a family like the Aunes is who you want carrying that torch into a new state. I can't wait to watch what they build — and I've got a feeling our Taco Pizza and Smoked BBQ Brisket Pizzaare going to feel right at home in Texas."

Happy Joe's Pizza & Ice Cream has three company-owned locations, nine international locations throughout Egypt, and 35 domestic franchised locations throughout the Midwest and Southwest, with a Mendota Heights, Minnesota, location opening this summer and more in the pipeline.