Meet J. Michelle DiGiovanni | Cafe owner, wife, Mom

We had the good fortune of connecting with J. Michelle DiGiovanni and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi J. Michelle, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Life is all about risk taking. Every move we make could be considered a risk. There are no guarantees in love, careers, or any part in life. Sure, peope can take calculated risks and weigh out the pros and cons of decisions but at the end of the day anything can happen. My husband and I picked up and moved from Los Angeles to the So Cal mountains to open LuluBelle’s Coffee House and bakery.

We opened mid covid-19 pandemic lockdown in November 2020. We spent two years prior to opening planning the construction of our building, menu, staffing, finances etc. but no amount of planning could determine the outcome of our risk. We weighed out the pros and cons of all the scenarios we could come up with and always came to the same conclusion- if this doesn’t work out we will just make a new plan. A new plan with new risks.

Does risk have to end in either success or failure? Even what some may consider failure is still a sucess in my mind. Just putting yourself out there and trying something new is sucess. Life is too short to not take risks.

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?
LuluBelle’s Coffee House and Bakery was born out of a desire to create something that aligned with our ethics and values as people. Michael, a long time union member wanted to make sure we created a place where employees feel supported, encouraged and welcome. In addition to paying a fair livable wage to our employees we wanted to make sure we partnered with other vendors who were doing the same things. That’s why we chose to serve Thanksgiving Coffee at our cafe. A B corp with a long track record of doing great things for the Earth and those on it.

Starting LuluBelle’s was a challenge. Neither Michael or I had a real history in the restaraunt industry. Mike with a long time career in the film industry and myself who had a 18 year career in health care. Banks and investors saw us as a big risk.

There were times we thought we would never open our doors. But we managed to overcome that only to face our next challange. After two years of planning and building we were ready to open the doors when Covid 19 hit. We ended up opening anyway in November of 2020 with fingers crossed that LuluBelle’s would be a success.

One of the greatest lessons learned through this process was how incredibly important teamwork is. Sticking together and working through challenges together was very important and was key to everything.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The San Bernardino mountains offer so much! From beautiful hikes to great food. A hike at the pinnacles is a must, but get there early morning because it gets hot on the trails and bring plenty of water. Deep creek is another great hike when fire danger is lower and trail is open.

Next, breakfast at LuluBelle’s! Best coffee on the mountain. The breakfast burritos can’t be beat! Live music during the summer on the weekends.

Shopping at all my favorite small businesses like Evergreen and Littlebear bottle shop in skyforest, and Magpi in Cedar Glenn.

Dinner/lunch at The LakeFront Tap Room, Lake Arrowhead Brewery at Lake Arrowhead Village and live music at the Stockade in Crestline. And we always take our family and friends to The Bistro in Blue Jay for an amazing dinner.
Sunset at Strawberry Peak is a must for photography lovers

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?
Taking risks can sometimes be really scary. It’s really great to have someone by your side cheering you on, lifting you up pushing you further. My husband Michael balances this team. He always offers a fresh perspective on ideas. He is the tactician, planner, and organizer. He grounds this operation!

Website: www.lulubellesmountainbaker.com

Instagram: lulubelles_bakery

Yelp: LuluBelle’s Coffee House and Bakery