9 Weeks Later. A quick update on the Silicon Valley Donut War of Stan's vs. Randy's.

Hello Client, Billy Joel sang in 1977, *”I’d rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints,” buried in

the song “Only the Good Die Young”. Click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Crif5E67ar0.

A line about today’s politics or a possible parable about what could be the last laugh between the Randy’s vs Stan’s Silicon Valley “donut war”?

Let’s go with

Randy’s vs Stan’s here.

I saw today the same kind

of entrepreneurial spirit as

I see over and over in you, our TradeMark Express clientele.

You each hire us, or inquire with us to in an effort to LEGALLY CLEAR, then TRADEMARK your company names, product names, logos designs and slogans to OWN. Impressive!

You are aware CLEARING a mark is a need. You are aware that trademarking can expand your rights in SOUND, APPEARANCE and MEANING. You suspect trademarks create generational wealth. THEY CAN. You and your vastly varied types of businesses make it fun and interesting to work here. You are why our staff has been here an average of 14 years.

Thank you for your repeat business and referrals to friends who also want to kindle their entrepreneurial spirit – like Randy’s Donut franchise owner Osam is doing today.

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Back to Randy’s vs Stan’s!

Today I drove 8 miles south to see what is happening at the corner of Homestead Road and Las Palmas Drive, Santa Clara locations where Randy’s and Stan’s compete across the street from each other to sell donuts. My first visit was on August 2, then again on August 16. See my article from that day below.

So, 9 weeks later, gain Stan’s Donuts had a very impressive long line – this time: 30 yards. Randy’s had no line whatsoever.

Being who I am, I bought my donuts at Randy’s. I am someone who will never wait in a line, (ok hardly ever), but will certainly go back numerous times over several months to seek a day when there is no line. I WILL try Stan’s donuts someday – I promise. When there ain’t no line! Ok, a very short line, not 30 yards.

A side note: very popular Ramen Nagi in nearby in San Jose ALWAYS has a 20-to-40 yard line. Needless to say, I have never dined there. When the space next door became available, I asked their staff, “Why not take the space and expand”? The response was that they had no interest, but another restaurant took the space anyway. A ramen restaurant…

Here’s the Randy’s vs Stan’s stats over the last 9 weeks:

AUGUST 2, 2026 – SITE VISIT STATS @ 7:50am.

Stan’s Donuts: LINE TO DOOR = 75 YARDS LONG + TIME IN LINE = 45 MINUTES.

Randy’s Donuts: LINE TO DOOR = 25 YARDS LONG + TIME IN LINE = 22 MINUTES.

AUGUST 16, 2026 – SITE VISIT STATS @ 7:26am.

Stan’s Donuts: LINE TO DOOR = 50 YARDS LONG + TIME IN LINE = 30 MINUTES.

Randy’s Donuts: LINE TO DOOR = 0 YARDS LONG + TIME IN LINE = 0 MINUTES.

OCTOBER 4, 2026 – SITE VISIT STATS @ 9:05am.

Stan’s Donuts: LINE TO DOOR = 30 YARDS LONG + TIME IN LINE = 20 MINUTES.

Randy’s Donuts: LINE TO DOOR = 0 YARDS LONG + TIME IN LINE = 0 MINUTES.

Google Comparison – Searched “Stan’s Donuts vs Randy’s Donuts.”

https://www.google.com/search?q=Randy%27s+vs+Stan%27s+or+Randy%27s+.vs+Stan%27s+or+Randy%27s+vs.+Stan%27s&oq=Randy%27s+vs+Stan%27s+or+Randy%27s+.vs+Stan%27s+or+Randy%27s+vs.+Stan%27s&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOdIBCTEyNDc0ajBqN6gCALACAA&sourceid=chrome&source=chrome.ob&ie=UTF-8&sei=I4bCatKlE4L00PEPzJnZqAo

TikTok Comparisons

I disclose I have been a Randy’s customer since as a college student I had a weekend job delivering cars for Avis all over Southern California in 1978. GREAT DONUTS!

While at Randy’s, buying my favorite donuts, I noticed a man behind the counter with a laptop, fixing a cash register. I asked “Are you the owner?”

“Yes,” the man said. I believe his name was Osam. Osam said there was “no intention” to target Stan’s. Randy’s “happened to be a great location available at the time; good rent and just a great location.” Osam says they “see it as more like when there are 2 gas stations across the street from each other.” Osam recognizes, “Stan’s has their loyal following.”

An analogy of Philadelphia’s cheesesteak battle of another kitty-corner situation between Pat’s King of Steaks, from 1930, and Geno’s Steaks, which opened in 1966. When visiting, who has not been to both Pat’s and Geno’s?

Osam said there was “no intention” to target Stan’s. Randy’s “happened to be a great location available at the time, good rent – just a great location”. Osam says they “see it as more like when there’s 2 gas stations across the street from another”. An analogy of Philadelphia’s cheesesteak battle of another kitty-corner situation between Pat’s King of Steaks from 1930 and 1966 Geno’s Steaks opened in 1966. Who hasn’t been to both Pat’s and Geno’s? Osam recognizes “Stan’s has their loyal following.”

When asked how it was going, Osam said “Very well.” I asked about the hours, as Stan’s always closes at 2:30pm every day, and I noted Randy’s has longer hours. Osam, said yes, they were originally trying to stay open each day to 10pm, but kept running out of ingredients. So, he cut Randy’s hours to 3pm, then up to 7pm, and with a goal soon to get back to 10pm. He mentioned this was the first of 5 franchise locations to open in the SF Bay Area. I quipped that the publicity has to help. He said it certainly had. I asked again if the intention was to target Stan’s? Again, Osam insisted “No. It was the availability of the location”.

I asked Osam his background. Not surprisingly, Osam said tech, not surprisingly as around here everyone works in tech, but he also had restaurant experience as a partner elsewhere. I asked if Westfield Valley Fair Mall was considered, and both Osam and a clerk at the same time chimed in that there wasn’t enough space to operate there; rent would be too high for the space they needed. I suggested, why not shuttle donuts over? (This distance between locations is 2.5 miles, 8-minute drive.) “Hmmm,” they reacted, before saying “no.”

Ok maybe I am not a terrific reporter, but I’ll take license to digress again. It’s my article!

My take is Osam today was so very impressive to me. An embodiment of entrepreneurial spirit with a big broad smile. He has daring, resolve and determination. Fearless. You can see it playing out. I believe he didn’t expect the local wave of publicity his opening has garnered. He is the exact kind of person who is going to capitalize on this situation. Randy’s charges much more what Stan’s charges. He’s going to be open more hours. Being a franchise, a famous name franchise no less, will always provide a foundation of credibility. Well worth the ~6% royalty. Well worth NOT having to re-invent the wheel. Who wants to do that for a mature retail service such as the thin margins a food/restaurant establishment offers? The Randy’s franchiser themselves could not have approved a better person than Osam. His employees will work hard for him. There will be no end to their loyalty. Banks will throw money at him. He’s there on Sunday morning fixing the cash register himself. He will be appreciated.

WE APPRECIATE YOU!

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Thank you, Chris DeMassa, Founder – 650-948-0530

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