Meet Stephanie Issa | CEO of The Lullabar

We had the good fortune of connecting with Stephanie Issa and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Stephanie, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
I’ve learned that risk isn’t a one-time event. It’s a skill that gets stronger with practice.

When I opened The Lullabar, I was stepping into something I had never done before. I wasn’t just opening a coffee shop or a nail salon. I was building a completely new concept that combined childcare, self-care, food and beverage, classes, and community under one roof. There wasn’t a roadmap to follow, which meant almost every decision carried some level of uncertainty.

What surprised me most was how much my relationship with stress changed. Early on, challenges that felt overwhelming could keep me up at night. Today, many of those same situations barely register. I’ve developed what I call a “stress muscle.” Just like a physical muscle, it gets stronger the more you use it.

The stronger that muscle becomes, the more comfortable you become taking calculated risks. Not because you’re fearless, but because you’ve proven to yourself that you can adapt, solve problems, and recover when things don’t go according to plan.

Entrepreneurship has taught me that confidence doesn’t come from having all the answers. It comes from surviving enough situations where you didn’t have them. Every challenge I’ve faced has increased my confidence that I’ll figure out the next one.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The idea for The Lullabar came from a problem I was experiencing myself.

As a parent, I often felt like self-care, productivity, and family life existed in separate worlds. If I wanted to get my nails done, I needed childcare. If I wanted to work, I needed childcare. If I wanted to meet a friend for coffee, I needed childcare. Everything required coordinating multiple places, schedules, and logistics.

I started wondering why these experiences had to be separated in the first place.

That question eventually became The Lullabar, a space that combines a luxury non-toxic nail salon, café, childcare, classes, and community gathering space under one roof. What began as a solution for parents has evolved into something much larger. Today, we serve professionals working remotely, students studying, families gathering, friends meeting for coffee, and people simply looking for a welcoming place to spend time.

The journey has been far from easy. There were days when I was troubleshooting childcare staffing, handling a customer issue in the salon, and jumping behind the café counter all before noon. Building a business with so many moving parts has required me to become comfortable making decisions quickly, adapting constantly, and solving problems in real time.

One lesson I’ve learned is that resilience matters more than perfection. Every challenge feels overwhelming the first time you face it, but over time you build confidence by working through difficult situations and continuing to move forward. The challenges never completely disappear, but your ability to handle them grows.

What I’m most proud of isn’t the business itself. It’s seeing how people use it. Some guests come for coffee. Some come for childcare. Some come for a manicure. Many come for a combination of all three. Watching people incorporate The Lullabar into their daily lives has been incredibly rewarding because it confirms that we solved a real problem.

If there’s one thing I want people to know about me, it’s that I didn’t build this business because I thought it would be easy. I built it because I believed there had to be a better way to support people, especially parents, while creating a stronger sense of community. Everything we’ve built started with that belief.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If one of my best friends was visiting for a week, I’d want to show them the places I actually spend time, not just the typical tourist attractions.

Of course, we’d start with a matcha at The Lullabar, but after that I’d take them to Cedros Avenue in Solana Beach. I love walking through the local shops, grabbing a coffee, browsing small businesses, and stopping at Madeleine Café & Bakery for a bite to eat. We’d finish the afternoon at Fletcher Cove, which is one of my favorite places to relax and enjoy the ocean, especially with the kids.

As a mom, I also have a long list of places that are great for both adults and kids. I love visiting the Golden Door Country Store because it’s peaceful, surrounded by nature, and feels like a true escape from the busyness of everyday life. They have fresh fruits and vegetables, beautiful grounds to walk around, and plenty of space for kids to run and explore.

Another favorite is Sand N’ Straw Community Farm. I love that you can grab a great cup of coffee, spend time with farm animals, and enjoy being outdoors. There’s something special about slowing down and spending time in nature, and it’s one of those places that both kids and adults genuinely enjoy.

I’d also make sure we stopped by Prager Brothers in Carlsbad. Their baked goods and coffee are incredible, and sitting outside listening to live music on the weekends is one of my favorite ways to spend an afternoon.

What I love most about this area is that some of the best experiences aren’t the big attractions. They’re the local coffee shops, bakeries, farms, beaches, and small businesses that give the community its character. If a friend was visiting, I’d want them to experience the places that make everyday life here feel special.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First and foremost, my husband and family deserve a tremendous amount of credit. Entrepreneurship is often portrayed as an individual achievement, but the reality is that building a business affects everyone around you. There were countless late nights, difficult decisions, stressful moments, and sacrifices that my family experienced alongside me. Their support gave me the confidence to keep moving forward during the hardest periods.

I’d also recognize our customers. When we opened The Lullabar, we were asking people to believe in something that didn’t really fit into a traditional category. They took a chance on us before we had fully proven the concept. Many of the improvements we’ve made over the years came directly from listening to their feedback.

And finally, our team deserves recognition. Every great customer experience is created by people who genuinely care about their work. Building a business is never a solo effort, and I’m grateful for everyone who has helped turn an idea into a real community.

Website: https://thelullabar.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/thelullabar/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelullabar/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-lullabar-carlsbad-4

Image Credits
I have rights to these images.