Donut Wars: South Bay Edition

If you've lived in the South Bay, and more specifically Santa Clara, for any amount of time, you probably already know about Stan's Donut Shop. And if you don't, it's worth the visit, possibly the best donut I've ever had!  It's been serving up donuts since 1959 and has earned legendary status around here. For a lot of people, a trip to Stan's at 2628 Homestead Rd, Santa Clara, CA 95051 isn't just about grabbing breakfast. It's a local tradition. 

Well... things are about to get interesting.

Randy's Donuts, the famous Southern California chain with the giant rooftop donut, is opening its very first Bay Area location. And they didn't just pick any spot. They picked the lot directly across the street from Stan's!  Holy Moly! 

It's... About... To go... Down... 

Santa Clara wasn't about to make it too easy, though. The city approved the project but said no to Randy's signature 32-foot rooftop donut and also denied the drive-thru. So if you want a Randy's donut, you'll have to park and walk in like the rest of us. Just like over at Stan's 

Whether those decisions were about traffic, signs, or protecting a hometown icon, it's hard not to see this as a classic David versus Goliath showdown. Stan's has been part of Santa Clara for more than 65 years, while Randy's is rolling in with a nationally recognized brand and plenty of hype.

So who wins?

Maybe Randy's brings something new to the neighborhood. Maybe Stan's loyal customers never leave. Or maybe we all just end up eating twice as many donuts in the name of "research."

I'm curious where you stand. Are you Team Stan's or Team Randy's?  We did a short video on Stan's a couple years ago if you want to give it a look... 

Stan's Donuts x TLG

If you ask me, just go try Stan's once, and you'll probably never leave.