Doughnut Drama in Santa Clara: Randy's Opens Across From Beloved Stan's, Sparking Local Backlash

Randy's Donuts — the Southern California chain famous for the oversized rooftop doughnut at its original Inglewood location — opened its first Northern California store this week at 2628 Homestead Rd in Santa Clara. The catch: it launched directly across the street from Stan's Donut Shop, the family-owned bakery that has served the neighborhood since 1959.

The close proximity quickly became a community flashpoint. Supporters of Stan's gathered outside, wearing "Stand with Stan's" shirts and leaving chalk messages and heart drawings on the sidewalk. Social media lit up with messages both defending the hometown bakery and mocking the newcomer, with some online commenters telling Randy's to "go back to LA."

Local Reaction

For many residents, this is about more than doughnuts. Stan's customers praise the bakery's daily-made glazed doughnuts and long-standing role as a multi-generation gathering spot. Current co-owner Julie Clark said she was surprised her shop would draw such attention: "It's just a doughnut shop, for Pete's sake," she told SFGATE, adding that three- and four-generation regulars keep returning because Stan's "hasn't changed that much."

Price and payment habits have also become talking points. Stan's charges about $1.90 for a glazed doughnut and continues to accept only cash or checks, while Randy's lists a glazed at roughly $2.75 and operates as a franchised brand that accepts modern payment methods.

Two Very Different Histories

Stan's was opened in 1959 by Stanford "Stan" Wittmayer and his wife, Florence "Tina" Wittmayer. A World War II veteran who previously worked for Lucky grocery stores, Stan started the bakery to support his large family and build a neighborhood gathering place. Today the shop remains family-owned and operates a single location.

Randy's traces its roots to 1952 as part of the now-defunct Big Donut Drive-In chain. The brand stayed essentially single-shop for decades until Mark Kelegian purchased it in 2015 and pushed for expansion. Randy's launched a formal franchise program in 2019 and has since grown to more than 50 U.S. locations across California, Nevada, Arizona and Georgia, plus international outlets in Japan, South Korea and the Philippines, with additional stores planned.

Opening Day And The Bigger Picture

On opening day, lines formed at both shops as customers sampled offerings and compared experiences. Some locals framed the arrival of Randy's as a classic NorCal vs. SoCal cultural moment — an expanding franchise versus a single-location institution that symbolizes neighborhood continuity. Others urged a truce of sorts: "Stan's at 8 a.m., Randy's at 8 p.m. — win-win."

Why it matters: The showdown highlights how national or regional chains can clash with long-standing local businesses when they compete for the same block. The debate touches on price, tradition, community identity and how neighborhoods change as brands expand.

Whether shoppers gravitate to Stan's or Randy's, the episode underscores the emotional ties people have to neighborhood institutions — and how every doughnut can come with a side of local pride.