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 “protected haven” for youngsters and households, in accordance with 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 stated, ‘Hey, I’ve received a chance with my background, I believe I can actually enhance our pizza dough,’” Tom Sacco, present Blissful Joe’s Pizza Chief Government Officer, President and Chief “Happiness” Officer, recalled.
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“They stated, ‘Properly, in case you don’t assume our pizza dough is so good, why don’t you simply depart and do your individual pizza restaurant,’” Sacco continued.
To this present day, the model continues to make use of that very same dough recipe, in accordance with Sacco.
“I attempt to be as true, not realizing him, however understanding a few of his traits and attributes,” Sacco instructed FOX Enterprise.
Sacco has spent his complete profession within the restaurant enterprise and grew up working in his grandfather’s kitchen at eight years outdated.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 accordance with their web site. (Blissful Joe’s Pizza / Unknown)
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 all the time about household and it revolves round youngsters,” Sacco stated.
Sacco stated throughout a go to to Iowa earlier than he was set to go up the corporate, he walked round shops asking individuals in the event that they have been acquainted with the model. He defined that those that he spoke with “would go on and inform [him] all these magical recollections that they’d.”
“I stated to myself, ‘You recognize 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 recollections that I used to be instructed by all these individuals.”
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In 2025, the corporate reported a “milestone 12 months” of development and affect in the neighborhood, in accordance with a launch shared with Fox Enterprise.
The model re-opened a franchise in New Ulm, Minn., with “renewed growth efforts” supporting deliberate development throughout Texas and Iowa, amongst different states. It is also increasing its West Coast presence, with a gap in Oro Valley, Ariz., within the spring.
“This 12 months confirmed what is feasible when franchisees, crew members and visitors imagine in that mission,” Sacco stated 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 preserving that spirit on the heart of every part we do.”
The corporate debuted a meals truck in October 2025, in accordance with stories. (Blissful Joe’s Pizza / Unknown)
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 stated. “That uptick continued, actually, up till the tip of [2025].”
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Sacco stated that this effort felt like he was “going to go in opposition to the grain.”
“It was virtually 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 have been saying, ‘Tom, if there’s something we are able to let you know, [it’s to] comply with the recipe [Whitty] had,’” stated Sacco.
The model can be deeply concerned in philanthropic work and group involvement. In response to their web site, the corporate has gained quite a few awards and created a wide range of applications in an effort 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 trying to broaden into Texas, Arizona and extra, in accordance with Sacco. (Blissful Joe’s Pizza / Unknown)
In an emotional second, Sacco stated that whereas the corporate is a enterprise, “the calling [of Happy Joe’s Pizza] is a lot extra.”
The corporate hosts an annual occasion referred to as Blissful Joe’s Vacation Events for Youngsters with Particular Wants. This 12 months, the corporate reported that roughly 2,000 youngsters have been in attendance. Sacco stated that these moments are what “juice him up” for the longer term.
“It’s so touching to me to see these children care that a lot a few pizza,” Sacco stated 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 stated he plans to proceed to be a “servant chief.”
“I attempt to be the perfect servant chief I will be. I attempt to lead by instance… For those who care, that’s what you do,” Sacco stated. “I believe bringing again caring to Blissful Joe’s was one of many lacking components.”
