A Sweet Move: Iconic Donut Chain Plans Upper East Side Debut

Randy’s Donuts will serve everything from classic glazed donuts to premium creations.

Courtney McGinley Regional Reporter
Randy’s Donuts' signature glazed raised donut. (Image credit: Facebook page)

A 70-year-old donut chain is preparing to sweeten the Upper East Side.

Randy’s Donuts will open at 1183 2nd Ave. under franchise operator Christine Lee

The Upper East Side shop will mark the brand’s second Manhattan location, joining its Greenwich Village outpost.

Randy’s Donuts is known for its light, fluffy donuts, with flavors ranging from classics like glazed, chocolate iced and sprinkled cake to twists, jelly-and cream-filled varieties, as well as premium creations topped with M&M’s, Fruity Pebbles, s’mores, Oreos and matcha.

The donut shop traces its roots to Russell C. Wendell’s Big Do-Nut Drive-In chain, launched in the late 1940s. Its second location, which opened in Inglewood, California, in 1952, became a local landmark. Robert Eskow purchased and renamed the shop Randy’s Donuts in 1976.

Mark Kelegian acquired the company in 2015, preserving its original recipes while expanding the brand across the U.S. and internationally. Randy’s Donuts began franchising in 2019. 

Today, Randy’s Donuts has a presence in California, Arizona, Georgia, Nevada and New York City, as well as international locations in South Korea, the Philippines, Mexico and Japan, with additional openings planned in Scotland and the United Arab Emirates.

An official opening date has not been announced, though Lee told Whatnow New York City the Upper East Side location is on track to open within the next few months.

Visit the Randy’s Donuts website and follow along on Instagram and Facebook for the latest updates. Stay tuned!

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Regional Reporter
Courtney McGinley is a Regional Reporter based in Philadelphia, PA. A graduate of Penn State University's Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, she has been working as a journalist since earning her degree. Before joining What Now Media Group, Courtney was a Live News Fellow at Newsweek, where she gained experience in writing, breaking news reporting, interviewing, and editing. She was also nominated for a Mid-Atlantic Emmy. Outside of work, Courtney enjoys cooking and exploring new restaurants, coffee shops, and cocktail bars.
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