Yum Yum Donut Shops, Inc., doing business as Yum-Yum Donuts, is an American donut shop chain based in California. As of 2021, there are 71 stores, all located in California.

Yum Yum Donut Shops, Inc.
Yum-Yum Donuts
Company typePrivate
IndustryRestaurants
GenreCoffeehouse, Quick service
Founded1971; 53 years ago (1971)
Cypress Park, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
FounderPhillip C. Holland
HeadquartersCity of Industry, California, U.S.
Number of locations
71[1]
Key people
Lincoln Watase (President)
ProductsDoughnuts, bakery items, sandwiches, coffee, teas
OwnerWatase family
SubsidiariesWinchell's Donuts
Websiteyumyumdonuts.com

History

edit

Phillip C. Holland founded Yum Yum Donuts in 1971 in a former Orange Julius store. The original location, at Avenue 26 and Figueroa Street in the Cypress Park district of Los Angeles, California is still in operation. Holland met his future business partner, Frank Watase, when he put out a newspaper advertisement seeking a business manager for his first shop.[2] Holland expanded to three shops by 1973, sold half of the company to Watase, and together, they went on to open over 100 stores.[3] In 1989, Holland retired and sold his share of the company to Watase, who owned and operated the company with his son, Lincoln Watase.

In 2004 Yum-Yum Donuts bought Winchell's Donuts which opened 70 donuts shops ready for operation. As of 2019, there were 126 Winchell's and Yum-Yum Donuts shops in the greater Los Angeles area.[4] Yum-Yum Donuts is the largest chain of privately owned donut shops in the United States.[5] Both Yum-Yum Donuts and Winchell's are headquartered in the City of Industry, California.

Frank Watase died in September 2020[6] and, today, his son Lincoln Watase remains President of Yum-Yum Donuts.[7]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Wotapka, Dawn (August 13, 2004). "Yum Yum to Devour Winchell's Doughnuts". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  2. ^ "How donuts fuelled the American Dream". The Economist. July 10, 2019. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  3. ^ "Frank Watase Obituary (1924 - 2020) - Los Angeles, CA - Los Angeles Times". www.legacy.com. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  4. ^ "How donuts fuelled the American Dream". The Economist. July 10, 2019. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  5. ^ "Santa Clara University Receives $10 Million Gift and Leading Online Entrepreneurship Course Content to Create the My Own Business Institute and Expand Global Small Business Education Programs". www.businesswire.com. November 11, 2014. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  6. ^ "Frank Watase Obituary (1924 - 2020) - Los Angeles, CA - Los Angeles Times". www.legacy.com. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  7. ^ "Lincoln Watase | LinkedIn".
edit