Pup 'N' Taco (and Big DoNut!)

My Dad's business card

The Pup 'N' Taco Story:

My father, along with other family, friends and relatives, owned, operated, and managed Pup 'N' Taco restaurants in Southern California, Albuquerque and Denver. My brothers and sister and I all worked in them at various times during our teens and 20s. My mom, of course, helped out too and it wasn't uncommon for all of us to enjoy a Pup 'N' Taco dinner even after having worked there all day! Even my own kids and wife, in the early 80s, frequently enjoyed Pup 'N' Taco meals whenever we could stop in.

Originally, prices were a mere 15 cents for the town's best chilidog or taco. In the early days, the main Pup 'N' Taco outdoor sign featured a huge "15 cents" logo that far outshined the actual name of our business. Anyway, burritos, tostadas, pastrami sandwiches, taco burgers and the "Texas Tomato Burger" were all big sellers. For your thirst we featured RC Cola®, root beer, orange and our own fabulous cherry and grape flavored "slush" drinks - as a kid I continuously "sampled" them all!!

According to the media,* in about 1984, Pup 'N' Taco was sold to Taco Bell when it had around 100 stores compared to Taco Bell's 1,800. I, myself, other than being an employee, never had any financial interest in Pup 'N' Taco so I have no idea what the sales figures were but am sure it was in the millions of dollars (in 1984 dollars at that!). Anyway, as it goes in a free market, Pup 'N' Taco was sold and Taco Bell either remodeled or razed dozens of our buildings. Throughout the 20 year history of the chain, my family developed many great friendships with employees, suppliers, contractors and customers who will all be missed!

*Nation's Restaurant News (November 12, 1984), Press-Telegram (AM/PM/Thursday, Nov 1, 1984), Los Angeles Times article by Staff Writer Bruce Horovitz (pp. 1&2 of the Business Section, I can't see the date in my photocopy...), The Registar, Business article by Charles Siler (I can only read the words Wednesday, Oct. in my photocopy...).

Russ Wendell started it all!

In the late 1940s my father's uncle, Russell C. Wendell, created the Big DoNut Drive-In idea while selling donut making machines in Los Angeles. The first Big DoNut Drive-In was started at Normandie and Century, in 1950, with Russ opening nine more during the decade. Russ Wendell experimented with different food ideas, one being "Big Taco," that evolved into the first Pup 'N' Taco in 1965. The successful chain of Pup 'N' Taco restaurants reached a total of about 104 stores - most of which were located in the Los Angeles area although there were a few in Albuquerque and Denver. Russ Wendell's son, Russ Jr., was a big part of the business with my father, other Wendells and friends, getting involved later on...   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -     March 03, 2011 Hi Roger, I am a granddaughter of Royal Stearns, who was the Treasurer of Big DoNut and Pup'n'Taco until his death in 1970. I found a pic from the L.A. Public Library Digital Archives. It is of Russell Wendell and my Grandfather celebrating the Grand Opening of the Van Nuys location. 1959. I would love it if you added it to your Pup'n'Taco web page. Thank You Kindly, Kathy L.-K.

Photograph caption dated November 14, 1959 reads, "Big Do-Nut In Glamorous Opening -- A steady flow of Valley residents,
including numerous leaders in civic, business and club affairs, enjoyed the hospitality of the management of Big Do-Nut Drive-In, on
the occasion of the opening of the firm's newest drive-in at 7149 Kester Ave., corner of Sherman Way and Kester avenue, Van Nuys. In
addition to refreshments a gala program of entertainment was presented. Left to right, Russell C. Wendell, president; Royal Stearns,
treasurer of the company, with comely Jan Richards, Miss Van Nuys, and Nels LaVally, representing V.N. Chamber of Commerce."

Big Donut Drive-in

Thanks Mark Wilson!

It was the mass-production capabilities of the donut machines Russ Wendell was selling that enabled him to create a Drive-In that featured a quality, economical product. Also, it was this service concept that Russ Wendell used to originate the idea of serving customers through drive-up windows. Both Pup 'N' Taco and Big DoNut received lots of media attention, and sometimes humor, from the likes of Johnny Carson and other celebrities. The gigantic Big DoNut sign, itself, has been featured in television shows, documentaries, rock videos and various movies. Even Soviet President Nikita Khrushchev asked about the huge donut he saw from his Los Angeles motorcade during his visit to America in 1959! So, Pup 'N' Taco and Big DoNut are now "history," as it were, but I'm always delighted to hear from folks who remember the food and friendship. And, as indicated on my PNT Letters page, there does seem to be a lot of good memories floating around out there!!     - Roger J. Wendell    Golden, Colorado

Map of former Big DoNut locations in Los Angeles

Formerly Russ Wendell's Big DoNut Drive-In at Manchester and La Cienega in Los Angeles, California

Formerly Russ Wendell's 1st Big DoNut Drive-In at Normandie and Century in Los Angeles, California

	Pup 'N' Taco Letters Pup 'N' Taco Photos

More Pix, news articles, and other related PNT stuff!

The Register "Taco Bell to buy competitor" (October 1984) Press-Telegram "Taco Bell agrees to buy Pup "N' Taco (Thursday, November 1, 1984) Ingredients (Thank you Phil!) (233k) French fries Large! (41k) First Numbered Coupons used in Denver (72k) 15 Cent Menu used at window (259k) 1966 Envelope from Big DoNut to Pup 'N' Taco with a 5 cent postage stamp!(60k) 1971 Television commercial story board (240k) Opening Day - May, 1973, at the Denver store (Colfax and Williams) - my Dad the owner! (22k) Opening Day - May, 1973, at the Denver store (Colfax and Williams) with my Dad and brother Randy (37k) Opening Day - May, 1973, at the Denver store (Colfax and Williams) - that's me at age 16! (63k) 1983 Saturday Crew in Denver (Pat, Nancy, Gail, and others) (38k) Night (40k) Interior work area, my father and possibly Carol(?) (54k) Here's a picture of my great-Uncle, Russ Wendell, himself (55k) Big DoNut back when it was owned by the founder, Russ Wendell (62k) Wendell Motel (6268 Long Beach Blvd, Long Beach, CA) was owned by Russ' brother, my Grandfather Fred. Here we are visiting it, in 1977, after it, too, had been sold...

Videos!

Rolling Do-nuts! In the 2009 disaster film, 2012 you can see a large "Randy's DoNuts" (formerly Big DoNut) sign rolling across the road as Los Angeles is destroyed by a 10.9 earthquake. The rolling do-nut scene takes place between minutes 46:59 and 47:04...

• TV Commercial 29 Cents!
• Big DoNut video clip (low resolution) from the Travel Channel in May 2003 (645 kb) Thanks Brian!
• Big DoNut video clip (high resolution) from the Travel Channel in May 2003 (4.3 mb) Thanks Brian!
• Pup 'N' Taco TV Commercial from 1981 (1.1 mb) Thanks Anwar!
• dhinis made this YouTube video of my Pup 'N Taco pix!
• Here is a Spike interview with Ronald Weintrab, the current owner of Randy's Donuts (formerly Big Donut)
  on 805 West Manchester Blvd in Los Angeles (Okay, it's actually located in Inglewood but very close to the
  very famous LAX aiport). On February 7, 2011 I was passing through LAX and took a cab over to Randy's
  where I was able to chat with Ron about the store's history.

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