Beloved donut shop in Castro Valley closes after nearly 40 years

CASTRO VALLEY, Calif. - A beloved, family-run business called Rudy's Donut House in the East Bay closed for good Sunday after nearly 40 years at its location on Castro Valley Boulevard. 

The line for donuts began forming at 4 a.m. Sunday, 30 minutes before it opened. 

Generations of customers stopped by throughout the day to say goodbye and thank its owners, who are retiring.

Owners and sisters Angela Ducato and Gina Alfaro began working for their father, Rudy, when they were in their teens.  

"I just got emotional, she told me not to cry," said Ducato. 

The sisters said after many years of hard work and waking up at 1:45 a.m. five days a week, they are ready for the next chapter. 

"It's bittersweet, of course, we've been around for so long, and we're going to miss not the work but definitely the community and all our friends, and the people that have supported us all through these years," said Alfaro. 

Rudy's has operated at its latest location since 1988.

Rudy previously ran a Winchell's Donut House franchise nearby for 20 years.  

Carl Satariano bought one of his first donuts from Rudy when he was a kid.

"After wiping all the tears out of my eyes, we're going to find somewhere else to get coffee and maybe a donut, but this has been an icon and the girls have been working here for over 40 years," Satariano said. "Like I tell them, 'you've done your dad real proud, you kept the business open.'"

Donuts sold out within three hours Sunday morning, but people stayed for the conversation, took photos, and signed memory books.

"Rudy's has always been special for us. I grew up here, we used to walk here every Sunday and getting donuts was kind of a tradition, so we definitely wanted to show up on the last day," said Brian Wigand of Castro Valley. 

Brian Wigand's son scored the last muffin.

"It tastes amazing," he said. 

Bob Carter of Danville brought 35 cents to Rudy's on its final day, as a reminder of how much two donuts and a hot chocolate cost him when he was 13 years old. The price for the same order today is just under $6.

"I used to come here, I'd come here at 6 o’clock every morning on my paper route, pick up my papers, this is my first stop and the camaraderie of everybody here is wonderful," he said. 

The sign outside Rudy's reads 'Thank you for letting us be a part of your family!'

"They know your name, they can tell you who you are, you'll know something about them. You're just not a person buying a donut," Torrez said.