Classic Midwestern Pizza and Ice Cream Restaurant Coming to Tucson

Both pizza and ice cream will be on the local menu.Photo byPablo PachecoonUnsplash

Pizza and ice cream. Nothing might be more magical to a child’s ears than those two words. The magic doesn’t lose any of its luster into adulthood (even if the waistline doesn’t fully appreciate it). Going out for a slice of pizza and a cone of ice cream might be the closest to happiness anyone can experience (outside of sitting in a field full of puppies). Around Tucson, there are several pizza and ice cream restaurants, but a classic combination restaurant has announced it is finally making the move to open a location right in the Old Pueblo. 

Since 1972, Happy Joe’s Pizza & Ice Cream has been serving communities with both pizza and ice cream. The original Joe Whitty first opened a small drive-through in North Dakota back in the 50s. He eventually took a job at a bakery where he learned more tools of the trade. Finally, nearly 20 years after he started in the food business, he launched Happy Joe’s Pizza & Ice Cream. 

The brand started in North Dakota. It eventually spread to Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa (though skipping South Dakota). There is also currently a location in the Florida panhandle, and, of all places, a half-dozen around Cairo, Egypt. The brand has remained mostly a Midwestern restaurant brand, though it has recently eyed a western expansion. This includes one in Texas and two right here in Arizona. 

The eventual Tucson address has not yet been announced. The restaurant is currently in the negotiating and development phase of a franchise agreement. Once all of that has been completed a new location will be in the works. Of course, with all the larger chain restaurants, such as Outback and Red Lobster, that have closed over the last several months, there is plenty of large restaurant space available here in Tucson. 

In the short announcement from Happy Joe’s Pizza & Ice Cream, it states they can’t wait to bring their signature Taco Pizza to Tucson. 

The menu begins with appetizers that include cheese stix, pretzel stix, garlic toast, Joe’s Seasoned Tots, and wings. The restaurant offers several toasted sandwiches, such as the chicken Swiss panini, Italian panini, turkey bistro panini, and the pizza hero. 

As for the pizzas, the specialty pizzas include blt, bbq, combo, meatworks, Hawaiian, chicken hot wings, Happy Joe’s Special (comes with Canadian bacon and sauerkraut), and chicken bacon ranch. There are even several Mexican pizza options, such as the Taco Joe, Taco Supreme, Chicken Taco, Nacho Joe, and Matador.