Franchising

Happy Joe’s Pizza & Ice Cream to open 3rd Minnesota location

Photo: Happy Joe's Pizza & Ice Cream

August 21, 2026

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Happy Joe's Pizza & Ice Cream is opening its third Minnesota location with the latest in Mendota Heights, according to a news release. The location will open August 31, and is locally owned and operated by area developer and franchisee Brian Smith.

"Minnesota families have known this brand for a long time, and Mendota Heights is a great, family-centric community to keep that momentum going," Tom Sacco, CEO, president and chief happiness officer of Happy Joe's, said in the press release. "There's nothing else like a Happy Joe's. The taco pizza, the sundaes, the birthday parties that kids talk about for years — Mendota Heights families are about to have all of it in their backyard."

The opening continues Happy Joe's nationwide expansion with franchisees who share the brand's family-first approach, with Minnesota a priority market in that growth. The Mendota Heights restaurant marks the brand's 47th location systemwide, and the first of six Happy Joe's locations that Smith's company will open, and/or subfranchise, in Minnesota.

For guests looking to be part of the celebration, a Lollapalooza pizza-cutting, Happy Joe's giant pizza, will take place at 3:30 p.m. on opening day.