So Long Happy Joe’s Pizza As We Know It In Bismarck

I have fond memories of Happy Joe's Pizza.

Growing up in Grand Forks, North Dakota it was one of our hang-out places with their arcade and ice cream shop.  It was a great place to take a date, chill out with your friends, and they even had a delicious lunch buffet.

Happy Joe's lunch buffet was a frequent lunchtime stop for my co-workers and me.  They had one of the most popular pizza toppings in Grand Forks at the time (taco), and I just loved their mud pie ice cream.

Happy Joe's was also famous in my hometown for their birthday parties.  In fact, we had one of my son's first big birthday parties when he was young at Happy Joe's. It's where I learned to master Pac-Man, Space Invaders, and Tempest when I was young.

It was an adjustment when I moved to Bismarck a little over 4 years ago with the way our Happy Joe's is set up. 

It wasn't quite the same as my hometown.  It's located in a gas station (Red Carpet) at 2921 North 11th Street in North Bismarck.  At least the pizza was the same but not exactly the same dining experience.

Now, our Happy Joe's in Bismarck is changing its business model.

You will no longer be able to call in to place an order.  They are now a "grab and go" pizza place only.  Moving forward Happy Joe's will only offer Little Joe's pizzas, according to an employee who works at the gas station that I spoke to this morning.

They may also offer other sandwiches, salads, and wraps in the near future.  She said they may also bring back 9-inch pizzas at some point.

Happy Joe's will be more like a Hot Stuff Pizza going forward.

Similar to what you see in other gas stations.  All these changes apparently began this past weekend.  I can't help but feel a little nostalgic and sad about all of this.