Randy's Donuts

{{short description|Landmark building in Inglewood, California, U.S.}}

{{Infobox building

| name = Randy's Donuts

| image = Randy's donuts1 edit1.jpg

| image_alt =

| caption = Randy's in 2005

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| map_alt =

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| altitude =

| building_type = Restaurant, doughnut shop, bakery

| architectural_style = Novelty architecture

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| address =

| location_town = Inglewood, California

| location_country = United States

| coordinates_display =

| coordinates_format =

| coordinates = {{Coord|33.9618|-118.3703|region:US_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

| groundbreaking_date =

| opened_date = {{start date|1953 }}

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| roof =

| other_dimensions =

| main_contractor =

| architect = Henry J. Goodwin

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| website = {{URL|http://randys-donuts.com}}

| embedded =

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}}

Randy's Donuts is a bakery and a landmark building in Inglewood, California which is near Los Angeles International Airport. It is built in a style that dates to a period in the early 20th century that saw a proliferation of programmatic architecture throughout Southern California. This style had its heyday from the mid-1920s to the mid-1930s. By the 1950s however, the trend of designing structures in the shape of the product sold there had changed to focus on signs rather than architecture itself. Randy's is represented by a giant doughnut on the roof of an otherwise ordinary drive-in that is a dedicated doughnut bakery. The building was designed by Henry J. Goodwin.{{cite web |title=LA Conservancy, Randy's Donuts |url=https://www.laconservancy.org/locations/randys-donuts |access-date=18 June 2022}}

Colossal donut signs atop Randy's stores vary in size. Most locations use a {{cvt|32|ft|6|in|adj=on}} diameter version that sits atop the building and faces an intersection. In Roadside Giant by Brian and Sarah Butko, the Weintraubs climbed on top of the doughnut with a tape measure and confirmed the measurements for the authors. The Bellflower location, however, features a smaller version of the doughnut on top of a pole in front of the building. This may be {{convert|23|feet}} in diameter, as is widely reported.

The 24-hour drive-in is at 805 West Manchester Boulevard and it intersects with La Cienega Boulevard. It is near the Manchester Boulevard off-ramp of the San Diego Freeway (I-405).

History

In the late 1940s, doughnut machine salesman Russell Wendell founded a chain of drive-in doughnut shops named Big Donut. The first location opened in 1951 in Westmont. The second location, which is now a Randy's Donuts, was opened in 1952.{{Cite web |last=Harvey |first=Steve |date=2009-08-30 |title=The numbers have fallen, but giant doughnuts are still around |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-aug-30-me-then30-story.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=2022-06-18 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Nichols |first=Chris |date=2021-06-04 |title=Randy's Donuts Says It's Been Famous Since '62. History Tells a Different Story |url=https://www.lamag.com/askchris/ask-chris-randys-donuts/ |access-date=2022-06-18 |website=Los Angeles Magazine |language=en-US}} Designed by architect Henry Goodwin and structural engineer Richard Bradshaw, the rooftop doughnut is constructed out of rolled steel bars covered with gunite.

In 1976, after shifting focus to his Pup 'N' Taco chain (bought by Taco Bell in 1984), Wendell sold the Big Donut Inglewood location to Robert Eskow who renamed the location "Randy's Donuts" after his son. In 1978, Eskow sold the shop to Ron and Larry Weintraub, who decided to retain the name for the business.

In 2015, Randy's Donuts was purchased by lawyer and entrepreneur Mark Kelegian.{{Cite web |date=2020-10-14 |title=Randy's Donuts is coming to Costa Mesa, but its iconic sign may crumble city's design standards |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-10-13/randys-donuts-is-coming-to-costa-mesa-but-iconic-sign-may-crumble-citys-design-standards |url-access=subscription |access-date=2022-06-18 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} Since that time, the brand has added franchise locations in Southern California{{Cite web |date=2022-06-01 |title=LA's iconic Randy's Donuts opens first location in the San Fernando Valley |url=https://www.foxla.com/news/randys-donuts-opens-in-the-san-fernando-valley |access-date=2022-06-18 |website=FOX 11 |language=en-US}}, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Las Vegas{{cite web | url=https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/randys-donuts-to-roll-into-las-vegas-on-august-16/ | title=Randy's Donuts to roll into Las Vegas on August 16 | date=12 August 2022 }}, Phoenix,{{Cite web|title=Iconic Hollywood bakery opening first location in this metro Phoenix city|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/dining/2024/08/16/randys-donuts-chandler/74827529007/|website=azcentral.com|access-date=2025-05-30|date=2024-08-16|first=Bahar|last=Anooshahr|publisher=The Arizona Republic}} the Philippines{{cite news|url=https://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/food-drinks/los-angeles-randy-doughnuts-branch-metro-manila/|title=LA's Randy's Donuts to open first branch in Metro Manila|first=Steph|last=Arnaldo|date=February 26, 2022|accessdate=May 27, 2023|work=Rappler|location=Manila, Philippines}}, and Japan. {{Cite web |date=2021-02-27 |title=Don't be jelly: Randy's Donuts is on the rise in the hands of a Newport Beach family |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-02-26/randys-donuts-coming-to-costa-mesa-march-9-is-on-the-rise-in-hands-of-newport-beach-family |url-access=subscription |access-date=2022-06-18 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2025-05-15 |title=Randy’s Donuts opens first-ever branch in Japan, brings L.A.’s donuts to Tokyo【Photos】 |url=https://soranews24.com/2025/05/15/randys-donuts-opens-first-ever-branch-in-japan-brings-l-a-s-donuts-to-tokyo%E3%80%90photos%E3%80%91/ |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=SoraNews24 -Japan News- |language=en-US}}

Randy's Donuts opened a location at Los Angeles International Airport in 2023{{cite news |last1=Harden |first1=Olivia |title=Beloved Randy’s Donuts opens LAX location |url=https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/beloved-randys-donuts-opens-lax-location-18307198.php |access-date=7 February 2024 |work=Travel |agency=SFGATE |date=23 August 2023}} and in the No Ho Arts District in 2024.{{cite news |title=Randy’s Donuts, known for its huge donut on the roof, opens shop in NoHo |url=https://www.dailynews.com/2024/03/27/randys-donuts-known-for-its-huge-donut-on-the-roof-opens-shop-in-noho/ |access-date=15 August 2024 |newspaper=Los Angeles Daily News |date=27 March 2024}}

Gallery

File:Space Shuttle Endeavour at Randy's Donuts.jpg|The Randy's Donuts sign alongside Space Shuttle Endeavour as it is ferried through the streets of Los Angeles on Friday, October 12, 2012.

File:Randy's Donuts, Los Angeles.jpg|Actor and comedian Jimmie Walker with brothers Ron and Larry Weintraub, 2013

File:Randy's Donut LA seen from Air.jpg|Randy's Donuts can be seen from airplanes landing at LAX (center left, near cars waiting at Manchester Boulevard). Click on photo to see larger version.

File:Randy's Donuts LAX - Feb 2024 - Sarah Stierch.jpg|A miniature version of the Randy's Donuts sign at its LAX location.

In Popular Culture

In the 2010 film, Iron Man 2, Tony Stark while wearing the Iron Man armor, eats a box of Randy's donuts while sitting inside the large Randy's Donuts sign.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVGbAFy36xM |title=Iron-Man 2 (2010) - Restaurant Scene - Movie CLIP HD |date=2017-09-27 |last=TopMovieClips |access-date=2025-05-16 |via=YouTube}} Randy's Donuts also apears in the Justin Timberlake's music video "Can't Stop the Feeling!."{{Cite web|title=Here's Where to Find All of the L.A. Locations in Justin Timberlake's New Music Video|url=https://lamag.com/music/heres-where-to-find-all-of-the-l-a-locations-in-justin-timberlakes-new-music-video|website=Los Angeles Magazine|date=2016-05-17|access-date=2025-05-17|language=en|first=Marielle|last=Wakim}}