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Couple's Parking Lot Cafe Sells Millions
11 May
Summary
- A cafe started in a Home Depot parking lot achieved $2.3 million in sales last year.
- The couple lacked prior experience but used a savvy business sense and can-do attitude.
- A food writer's glowing review in 2022 significantly boosted the cafe's customer traffic.
In September 2021, Lydia Holmes and John Clarke launched LJ's Lil' Cafe in an Orange County Home Depot parking lot, embarking on an entrepreneurial journey with no prior experience. They transformed a pre-existing shed into a walk-up cafe, leveraging the built-in foot traffic of the retail environment and a nearby college campus.
Their gamble paid off significantly, with the original Home Depot location achieving $1 million in sales last year. A pivotal moment arrived in 2022 when a freelance food writer published a highly positive review of their breakfast burrito. This exposure led to an immediate surge in customers, with sales reaching over $1,000 daily shortly after.
Fueled by this success, the couple expanded, opening a second brick-and-mortar location in Orange, California, in July 2025. This new site quickly surpassed the original in sales, bringing in $1.3 million last year. The cafe now employs 29 staff across both locations and is preparing to open a third site in Cypress.
By October 2023, the couple felt ready to expand beyond their initial parking lot setup. They opened a brick-and-mortar store in Orange, California, which rapidly became their highest earner. LJ's Lil' Cafe's net profits reached approximately $431,000 in 2025, allowing for loan repayment and business reinvestment.
