Tom Sacco, CEO, president and chief “happiness” officer at Blissful Joe’s Pizza says the model is a “enterprise enterprise” however states the “calling is a lot extra” for the communities they serve. (Fox Information Digital / Olivia Palombo)
For greater than 50 years, Blissful Joe’s Pizza has been serving up extra than simply their famed pizza and ice cream. It’s discovered one thing extra necessary: a “secure haven” for kids and households, in response to the corporate’s chief “happiness” officer Tom Sacco.
The model, which is headquartered in Davenport, Iowa, started in 1972 and was based by Joe Whitty. A “baker by commerce,” he ended up working for Shakey’s Pizza.
“From what I perceive, he went to Shakey’s and mentioned, ‘Hey, I’ve acquired a possibility with my background, I believe I can actually enhance our pizza dough,’” Sacco, Blissful Joe’s Pizza’s chief government officer and president, recalled.
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“They mentioned, ‘Effectively, in the event you don’t suppose our pizza dough is so good, why don’t you simply go away and do your personal pizza restaurant?’” Sacco continued.
To at the present time, the model continues to make use of that very same dough recipe, in response to Sacco.
“I attempt to be as true, not figuring out him, however understanding a few of his traits and attributes,” Sacco informed FOX Enterprise.
Sacco has spent his total profession within the restaurant enterprise and grew up working in his grandfather’s kitchen at 8 years outdated. After getting a bachelor’s and grasp’s diploma and finishing legislation college, he nonetheless selected to pursue a profession within the trade.
Blissful Joe’s Pizza was the primary restaurant firm on the planet to create a Taco Pizza, in response to their web site. (Blissful Joe’s Pizza)
After a profession working with different eating places, he joined Blissful Joe’s Pizza in 2020.
“I’m very comfy within the trade, however what actually excited me was within the DNA of Blissful Joe’s. It’s at all times about household and it revolves round kids,” Sacco mentioned.
Sacco mentioned throughout a go to to Iowa earlier than he was set to go up the corporate, he walked round shops asking folks in the event that they had been acquainted with the model. He defined that those that he spoke with “would go on and inform [him] all these magical reminiscences that they’d.”
“I mentioned to myself, ‘You understand what? I’m gonna assist them as a result of it’s a great model, however I’m additionally gonna be egocentric,” Sacco shared. “I’m going to assist them as a result of I need my household, my grandchildren, to develop up with the identical reminiscences that I used to be informed by all these folks.”
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In 2025, the corporate reported a “milestone 12 months” of development and influence in the neighborhood, in response to a launch shared with Fox Enterprise.
The model re-opened a franchise in New Ulm, Minnesota, with “renewed growth efforts” supporting deliberate development throughout Texas and Iowa, amongst different states. It is also increasing its presence farther West, with a gap in Oro Valley, Arizona, within the spring.
“This 12 months confirmed what is feasible when franchisees, group members and visitors consider in that mission,” Sacco mentioned within the launch. “We expanded into new markets, earned recognition from our trade and created significant moments for the communities we love. As we glance towards 2026, we’re dedicated to retaining that spirit on the heart of every thing we do.”
The corporate debuted a meals truck in October 2025, in response to experiences. (Blissful Joe’s Pizza)
Whereas the corporate has reported huge success over the previous few years, that doesn’t go with out experiencing routine inflationary pressures. Sacco shared that regardless of these pressures, he “resurrected” the unique merchandise that Whitty was utilizing simply previous to the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“So when everyone was taking a success, we noticed an uptick in gross sales,” Sacco mentioned. “That uptick continued, actually, up till the top of [2025].”
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Sacco mentioned this effort felt like he was “going to go in opposition to the grain.”
“It was nearly like I used to be going to go in opposition to the grain, not as a result of I wanted to do one thing completely different, as a result of I believed that when the long-term franchisees had been saying, ‘Tom, if there’s something we are able to inform you, [it’s to] comply with the recipe [Whitty] had,’” mentioned Sacco.
The model can also be deeply concerned in philanthropic work and neighborhood involvement. In response to their web site, the corporate has gained quite a few awards and created quite a lot of applications with a view to “give again to the communities who’ve helped make [them] so profitable.”
The restaurant has varied places all through the Quad Cities space and is seeking to develop into Texas, Arizona and extra, in response to Sacco. (Blissful Joe’s Pizza)
In an emotional second, Sacco mentioned that whereas the corporate is a enterprise, “the calling [of Happy Joe’s Pizza] is a lot extra.”
The corporate hosts an annual occasion known as Blissful Joe’s Vacation Events for Kids with Particular Wants. This 12 months, the corporate reported that roughly 2,000 kids had been in attendance. Sacco mentioned these moments are what “juice him up” for the long run.
“It’s so touching to me to see these children care that a lot a couple of pizza,” Sacco mentioned with tears in his eyes. “It’s not the pizza, it’s the magic that the pizza creates for them.”
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As the corporate continues development efforts in 2026, Sacco mentioned he plans to proceed to be a “servant chief.”
“I attempt to be the very best servant chief I might be. I attempt to lead by instance… For those who care, that’s what you do,” Sacco mentioned. “I believe bringing again caring to Blissful Joe’s was one of many lacking components.”
