My parents always preferred Godfathers over most chains. I think it's because back then they had a giant pizza you could buy.
Happy Joes, no longer happy
- Thread starter keepngoal
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I worked there for a couple of years when I was in college. For a small fee I can give you the original recipe. What they're putting out there now is not quite the same.
Also, if you haven't tried a Nacho Joe, do it. It will replace taco as your favorite.
BLT is still my favorite. But they used to have one called the Super Max. It was a cheeseburger pizza with 1000 Island and lettuce and tomato. Phenomenal. I still occasionally make one at home.
That's a pretty poor location, actually. I'm surprised they lasted the fifteen years since the 4 lane cut them off.
Happy Joe's built their brand by maintaining pizza quality when other corporate chains were cheapening them up.
They are stuck between that product loyalty and a $25 large pizza price today. Something is going to give.
They have pride in the fact that some of their restaurants have been run by the company since the beginning, but the sooner that can move to a full franchise model the better off they'll be. They will reorganize to get some of the debt more manageable, but they will be fine.
They are stuck between that product loyalty and a $25 large pizza price today. Something is going to give.
They have pride in the fact that some of their restaurants have been run by the company since the beginning, but the sooner that can move to a full franchise model the better off they'll be. They will reorganize to get some of the debt more manageable, but they will be fine.
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What a dumb world we live in where a place like Pizza Ranch is thriving and Happy Joes is going bankrupt.
I feel like Happy Joes is similar to Godfathers. Godfathers pizza is far superior to any of the dominoes, Pizza Hut, etc. pizza joints but never seemed to stick around.
I feel like Happy Joes is similar to Godfathers. Godfathers pizza is far superior to any of the dominoes, Pizza Hut, etc. pizza joints but never seemed to stick around.
We hit up the Grimes one every once in awhile. I love seeing those Godfathers mini stands at gas stations when I’m on the road though.
You could watch them being made in the Ft. Dodge location. I think you could watch them in Ames also but some of the folks that worked that location would know better than my fading memories.
A few points and questions:
- I am so confused about "labor workers paying their bills if they're not working". Do you think the people who leave low wage jobs just...stop working?
- If wage earned does not match monthly expenses, why would these workers work for a business where they can't make enough money to make ends meet?
- If Happy Joe's isn't paying a decent wage, your hiring demographic becomes low income individuals looking for max hours, retired individuals who aren't concerned about a wage but staying busy, high school kids looking for experience or to save for college.
- From my experience, the demand for dining out is still not where it was pre-pandemic. Restaurants who have not modified their business model are struggling.
It's also always been a business where people don't pay close attention to the market (small shops anyway). People want to run a restaurant or a bar and assume they'll be great at it and away they go. Thus, there is generally an overabundance, which causes failure. Add to that the fact that its far more challenging than most people think (the business side) and you get failures there too. In the past couple years there have been a lot of businesses saying people don't want to work, but they just don't want to work there.
I was never big on the BLT but a lot of people love it. I had forgot the super max, that was a good one. Cheese slices and dill pickles.
What are your thoughts on Sandie's Delight? Underappreciated imho, unique.
Because it's "all you can eat" and too many people a) want max value and b) are fat hogs.
Might as well eat out of the dumpster.
The trick is you have to have someone GOOD to run the place. Everywhere uses idiot unskilled teens, because they are cheap. But you have to have a good manager, or the place won't work. Hard to find someone who is good at managing all that, but is willing to work food service job and hours, and deal with idiot unskilled teens as employees. (note: I was once an idiot unskilled teen)
Show me a good restaurant, and I will show you a good manager. 100% of the time.
From my experience working in these industries, I would start by asking what the wage is those businesses are paying. The issue is not "lazy workers", but stubborn/greedy business owners.
Agree...Nacho Joe is my favorite. Takes the taco to a whole nother level.
This is probably more of the case. You probably have a lot of older people who say things like "back in my day, things didn't cost..."
