Randy’s Donuts is arguably the most famous Donut Shop in the world. It’s made cameos in hundreds of movies, music videos, print ads, TV shows, and even video games. No matter what time of day you visit, you’re sure to see tourists–straight off the plane from LAX–lined up to take a picture with the giant donut and to buy some glazed and filled treats. But Randy’s wasn’t always called Randy’s, in fact, it was once location #2 of a chain that had 10 total shops in the Southland.
In 1950, donut machine salesman, Russel C. Wendell opened the first location of his “Big Do-Nut Drive-In” in the unincorporated community of Westmont in Los Angeles. Wendell saw an opportunity to cash in on L.A.’s emerging car culture by opening a donut shop where drivers could pull up to a service window and buy donuts without ever having to leave their car. He figured the best way to draw in those drivers was by placing a giant donut on the roof of his shop.
That first location and all the others that followed, were designed by architect Harry J. Goodwin and the giant donuts were created by structural engineer Richard Bradshaw, who was also involved in creating other iconic structures in Los Angeles, including the Theme Building at LAX.
Wendell had great success with his first Do-Nut Drive-In that in 1953, he decided to add a 2nd location in Inglewood. This location would eventually become Randy’s Donuts.
Unattributed newspaper.
After opening the location in Inglewood, Wendell ramped up his expansion and opened a location almost every year until 1960. He opened a 3rd in Gardena, a 4th in Culver City, a 5th in Compton, a 6th in North Hollywood, a 7th in Lennox, an 8th in Bellflower, a 9th in Van Nuys, and a 10th in Reseda.
The opening of the 9th and 10th locations foreshadowed the future of the donut chain. When Wendell opened those stores, he also opened a Big Taco Shop adjacent to the donut shops. It was becoming clear that he wanted to branch out in to the emerging fast food industry in Southern California.
The Van Nuys News and Valley Green Sheet March 25, 1960
in 1965 Wendell opened the 1st location of his fast food chain called “Pup ‘N’ Taco in Pasadena. Wanting to focus on expanding that chain, Wendell shifted focus away from the Big Do-Nut Drive-Ins and began selling off all the individual locations in the 1970s.
He sold stores #1 and #2 to Robert Eskow in 1976, who renamed them to “Randy’s Donuts and Sandwiches” after his son Randy. in 1977 Eskow sold store #1 to to Gary Kindle, who renamed that location to Kindle’s Do-Nuts, which still stands today.
in 1978, Eskow sold store #2 to his cousins Ron and Larry Weintraub, who kept the “Randy’s Donuts” name and operated it as a a single store for 37 years. It was during their tenure that the Randy’s gained its cult status. The brothers made the shop available for filming which led to its hundreds of cameos in various media.
Photo Credti: CC BY-SA: Monewellspent
in 2015, the brothers decided to retire and sell the business to someone who would keep the tradition alive, but also move the brand forward. They sold Randy’s to Mark Kelegian who has catapulted Randy’s from one location to an international franchise with 35 stores worldwide, including locations in the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, and South Korea. Every singe store incorporates the big donut from Randy’s in some way. In those places where local regulations don’t allow a giant donut on the roof, the find creative ways to pay homage to the giant donut of the original Inglewood Randy’s.
Out of the 10 Big Do-Nut Drive-Ins, 5 still remain standing and selling donuts (and bagels). We explore those locations in the next post.
References:
“Do-Nut Opening Draws Throngs” by Staff, The Southwest Wave. Aug. 10, 1950.
“Do-Nut Drive-In Opens New Store in Inglewood” by Staff, The Southwest Wave. July 9, 1953.
“Southside Firm Opens New Unit This Week-end” by Staff, The Southwest Wave. June 24, 1954.
“Big Do-Nut Drive-In Grand Opening to Feature Free Doughnuts, Coffee” by Staff, The Evening Vanguard. Aug. 18, 1955.
“Opening Set for Drive-In Taco Stand” by Staff, The Van Nuys News and Valley Green Sheet. Nov. 13, 1959.
“Big Do-Nut Taco Drive-Ins Open New Valley Location” by Staff, The Van Nuys News and Valley Green Sheet. March 25, 1960.
“Giant Doughnut has Successful Show-Biz Career” by Jim Radcliffe, The North County Times. May 24, 1997.
“Iconic Randy’s Donuts Began as Part of the Big Donut Chain” by Sam Gnerre, The South Bay Daily Breeze. June 21, 2014.
“Randy’s Donuts Says It’s Been Famous Since ’62. History Tells a Different Story” by Chris Nichols. Los Angeles Magazine, June 4, 2021.
“Presenting…Randy’s Donuts!” Ad in The L.A. Times. Feb. 6, 2022.
“Roadside Giants” by Brian and Sarah Butko Pg. 38-40
“An Architectural Guidebook to Los Angeles” by David Gebhard and Robert Winter Pg. 113
“Made in California” by George Geary pg. 178-181 and 240-243