economy
Couple launched a burrito spot in a Home Depot parking lot—their two restaurants brought in $2.3 million in sales in 2025
Lydia Holmes and John Clarke are the founders of LJ's Lil' Cafe, a burrito restaurant with two locations in Orange County, California.
TL;DR
- Lydia Holmes and John Clarke started their restaurant business, LJ's Lil' Cafe, in a 200-square-foot shed in a Home Depot parking lot in 2021.
- The couple's signature OG breakfast burrito, featuring tater tots and ample cheese, became a viral sensation after an Eater review.
- The viral success led to long wait times, prompting the couple to open a second, brick-and-mortar location in Orange, California, in July 2025.
- In 2025, the two LJ's Lil' Cafe locations generated a combined $2.3 million in sales.
- Holmes and Clarke, who met while working in restaurants, had no formal culinary or business training when they started, relying on trial and error and customer feedback.
- Their business grew significantly after a freelance writer published a positive review for Eater, leading to a substantial increase in daily sales.