- A California couple generated $2.3 million in sales from a burrito cafe they launched in a Home Decor parking lot in 2021.
- Their success was driven by a “built-in customer base” of shoppers and employees from the large retail store.
- With no prior industry experience, they expanded to a second location in July 2025, proving the viability of their unconventional model.
A couple with no hotel business background, Holmes, 36, and Clarke, 33, took a significant risk in 2021 by opening a burrito spot from a shed in a California Home Decor parking lot. Their venture, named LJ’s Lil’ Cafe, capitalized on an existing shopping crowd and rapidly grew into a multi-million dollar operation. Consequently, their shared passion for discovering unique dining spots, as “One thing that we bonded on was how much we enjoyed trying new places,” Clarke told CNBC Make It, became the foundation of their business philosophy.
They purchased the 200-square-foot shed for $95,000 with a loan from a family member, following a previous cafe operator. However, the couple entered the venture with no marketing experience or even social media accounts, relying heavily on trial and error. The location was “one of the biggest sells,” Clarke stressed, providing a steady stream of hungry customers without the need for complex advertising strategies.
Meanwhile, their focus on quality and customer feedback propelled them through the initial learning phase. Their innovative approach yielded a combined revenue of $2.3 million from both outlets by 2025. Consequently, they successfully opened a second location in July 2025, building on their initial parking lot success.
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