A California couple with no restaurant experience opened a burrito stand in a Home Decor parking lot in 2021. Their two locations generated $2.3 million in sales by 2025, demonstrating the potential of low-overhead, location-driven food service businesses.
The founders of LJ’s Lil’ Cafe, a 200-square-foot shed in a Home Decor parking lot, leveraged an existing customer base to build a successful food business. Holmes and Clarke purchased the shed for $95,000 in 2021 with a loan from a family member.
Clarke stated the location was “one of the biggest sells,” as noted in a CNBC interview. She explained the “built-in customer base” of shoppers and employees provided consistent traffic without requiring traditional marketing efforts.
The couple reported that their business involved considerable trial and error at the start. They were motivated by positive customer feedback during the early learning phase.
Their initial success led to a second outlet opening in July 2025. Combined sales from both locations reached $2.3 million in less than five years of operation.
