Krispy Kreme Retreats, Randy's Donuts Advances to Santa Monica as the Donut Wars Take an Unexpected turn

Forget that silly stuff about Meghan and Harry. Here's a story that actually affects you: On Sunday, April 18th Krispy Kreme Donuts will close its Santa Monica location at Euclid (13th Street) and Wilshire.

"Dear Santa Monica Community: Our lease is expiring and this store will be closing permanently on April 18th," said a sign on the counter at KK." we have enjoyed serving you" the sign continued, and please visit our website for other locations.

This will leave only 3 donut stores between 6th Street and 12th Street on Wilshire Blvd: Dunkin' Donuts at 12th, Randy's Donuts at 9th Street, and Sidecar Donuts at 7th and Wilshire. Sidecar features fresh, $5 donuts and deservedly long lines. And Randy's hasn't even opened yet. Oh the humanity!

(It's also possible to buy a donut at the Starbucks on 11th and Wilshire, a Mexican equivalent at La Monarca Bakery and Cafe at 12th and Wilshire, and a very interesting Homer Simpson inspired purple donut at 7-Eleven on 7th St. and Wilshire Blvd. Because there are no bad donuts, am I right?)

From Wikipedia: Krispy Kreme was founded by Vernon Rudolph, who bought a yeast-raised recipe from a New Orleans chef, rented a building in 1937 in what is now historic Old Salem in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and began selling to local grocery stores. Steady growth preceded an ambitious expansion as a public company in the period 2000 to 2016, which ultimately proved unprofitable. In 2016, the company returned to private ownership under JAB Holding Company, a private Luxembourg-based firm.

Randy's Donuts started in 1953 in Inglewood, where it still operates a 24 hour store not far from LAX. 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.

Randy's opened 10 locations, built over the course of the 1950s. 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. And there's no way the City of Santa Monica would ever allow one of those giant donuts (unless of course housing is included in them).

Randy's Donuts opened a new store in El Segundo on September 10, 2018. Randy's Donuts is also planning to open locations throughout California, and internationally in South Korea and the Philippines.