Relishing the return of Randy's

Little Jamaica patty shop that closed in 2022 back under new management

- KARON LIU

Randy's staff member Nicole Holas fills orders amid the rush of the re-opening.

Sitting in a camping chair, Alex Martinez is first in line for Randy’s Jamaican patty shop reopening. The 33-year-old arrived at 6:30 a.m., ahead of the 11 a.m. grand opening, with unfinished business.

In February 2022, the family-run Little Jamaica patty shop announced its sudden closure after 40 years in business, citing aging owners, ongoing LRT construction, labour shortages and the pandemic. With just three days notice, hundreds of people including Martinez lined up hoping to get one last box of spicy beef patties.

“I went on the second last day and wanted to make sure I had at least one patty. I waited hours but they said they were out of products, and I was on the verge of getting frostbite so I missed out,” he said.

Unsatisfied with the other patty options around the city, he said he had to come back for a taste on the reopening day.