Randy's Donuts

Randy's Donuts is a landmark building in Inglewood, California, near Los Angeles International Airport, 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. In the case of Randy's, the product in question 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.

There are actually two different sized doughnuts. Most locations used a 32 1/5 ft in diameter version that straddles the building and is aimed at the intersection. In "Roadside Giants" by Brian and Sarah Butko, the Weintraubs climbed on top of the doughnut with a tape measure and confirmed this for the authors. The Bellflower and Reseda locations, however, feature a small version of the doughnut on a pole out in front the building. This may be 23 feet in diameter, as is widely reported.

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

History

Randy's was built in 1953 (and first appears in the 1954 edition phone book) as the second location of the now-defunct Big Donut Drive-In chain by Russell C. Wendell, a doughnut machine salesman. There were 10 locations, built over the course of the 1950s. At least four other Big Donuts survive: they are Kindle's Donuts in unincorporated Westmont (this is the original location, built in 1950), the Donut King II in Gardena (3), Dale's Donuts in Compton (5), and Bellflower Bagels in Bellflower (8). Each features the distinctive giant doughnut constructed of rolled steel bars covered with gunite, a material used in swimming pools. Five Big Donuts have been demolished. They were located in Culver City (4), North Hollywood (6), Inglewood (on Imperial Hwy, 7), Van Nuys (9) and Reseda (10).

In the 1970s Wendell sold off the individual stores to concentrate on his Pup 'N' Taco chain (which he sold to Taco Bell in 1984). Robert Eskow purchased the Manchester and Normandie locations in 1976 and named them "Randy's Donuts and Sandwiches" after his son. In 1977 a baker named Gary Kindle purchased the store on Normandie, which is still operating under the name Kindle's Donuts. In 1978, brothers Ron and Larry Weintraub (cousins to the Eskows) purchased the Randy's on Manchester and kept the name; they own it to this day.

Similar to the Big Donut chain is The Donut Hole of La Puente, California, the last of a chain of five stores featuring two Шаблон:Convert drive-through fiberglass donuts on either side of a small bakery building. A number of Angel Food Donut stores in Long Beach also feature over-sized doughnuts; these appear to have been manufactured out of metal duct work.

In popular culture

Шаблон:Refimprove section

The building was featured in the films Earth Girls Are Easy, Mars Attacks!, The Golden Child, Into the Night, Stripped to Kill, Problem Child 2, Breathless, Californication, California Girls, 2012, Iron Man 2, "Get Shorty", Volcano, Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles, Escape from Petropolis, and Love Letters. It can be seen briefly with other world-famous monuments in the Futurama episode "When Aliens Attack." It has also been featured in the music videos for Randy Newman's "I Love LA" and The Prodigy's "Wind It Up". As well as in the music video for Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Californication." Similar buildings with giant donuts, under different names, are featured in the video games Midnight Club: Los Angeles, Need for Speed: Most Wanted', City of Heroes, and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas as well as in "Marge vs. the Monorail", an episode of The Simpsons.

The iconic structure was shown on the History Channel series Life After People, showing what would happen to the building without human repair.

The building's famous doughnut can be spotted in the scene changes of the Nickelodeon sitcom Victorious.

In the episode "Pier Pressure" of Arrested Development, in a sequence showing Buster's medical trial for THC, medical marijuana, a picture is shown of Buster standing next to Randy's Donuts on the roof attempting to eat his way through it.

In the film Iron Man 2, the protagonist Tony Stark is seen eating donuts while reclining inside the doughnut sign.

In the film 2012, the doughnut sign can be seen rolling through the streets during an earthquake.

See also

  • List of doughnut shops

References

Шаблон:Reflist

External links

Шаблон:Commons category

Listed in the following categories:
Post a comment
Tips & Hints
Arrange By:
Eater
5 September 2017
Don't make the iconic structure atop Randy's Donuts detract you from whats inside. The maple and chocolate bars are excellent, while the bear claws and apple fritters are worth the (calorie) splurge.
Katherine Desy
2 January 2017
So good! Got 8 donuts, mix of "premium" and regular donuts for $10. The donuts were fresh and tasted homemade. Short line, moves quickly. Love this spot!
Chris Cookson
7 December 2016
a Los Angeles icon, you can see the giant donut from the plane when you land at LAX. Get a box of a dozen donuts and try a variety of them. A great pairing after stopping by Roscoe's.
Karon W
25 February 2014
First time here and there was an excessive wait. I had the man behind me order with me to save him time. He treated me to my donuts :) so kind, and the donuts were fabulous so I thank you sir!
Nelson Monsod
26 August 2013
Good Apple Fritter. I am glad I got rid of half of it right away - I love the taste, but don't need the extra calories.
LeVan Greene
18 June 2021
This was my first time here the best donuts I've had in awhile. Excellent service highly recommended.
Load more comments
foursquare.com
8.7/10
83,525 people have been here
Map
8425 South La Cienega Boulevard, Inglewood, CA 90301, USA Get directions
Mon-Sun 24 Hours

Randy's Donuts on Foursquare

Randy's Donuts on Facebook

Hotels nearby

See all hotels See all
Geneva Motel

starting $90

Best Western Airpark Hotel

starting $167

Cloud 9 Inn LAX

starting $75

Days Inn by Wyndham Los Angeles LAX/VeniceBch/Marina DelRay

starting $134

Tradewinds Airport Hotel

starting $81

Los Angeles Adventurer All Suite Hotel

starting $80

Recommended sights nearby

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Theme Building

The Theme Building is a landmark structure at the Los Angeles

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Los Angeles International Airport

Los Angeles International Airport Шаблон:Airport codes is the prima

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
El Porto Beach

El Porto Beach is a California beach located on Santa Monica Bay

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Manhattan Beach, California

Мангеттен-Біч, Манхеттен-Біч — місто на південному заход

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Judge Harry Pregerson Interchange

The Judge Harry Pregerson Interchange is a stack interchange near the

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Venice Canal Historic District

The Venice Canal Historic District is a district in the Venice section

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County opened in Exposition

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
California Science Center

The California Science Center (sometimes spelled California

Similar tourist attractions

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Casino Cafe de Paris

Casino Cafe de Paris is a tourist attraction, one of the Casinos in

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Ještěd Tower

Ještěd Tower is a 94 metre-tall tower used to transmit television s