Our Story
TJ’s Kitchen started the way many good food stories do: with hard work, long days, and a belief that good food brings people together.
We’re T and John—partners in life and in business—and for the past few years we’ve been operating a small, independent food operation at Camarillo Springs Golf Course. What began as a modest pop-up with big dreams has grown into a reliable part of the Camarillo Springs Community. We serve golfers, families, workers, and neighbors who come back not just for the food, but for the familiarity, the care, and the consistency.
We do everything ourselves—prep, cooking, service, cleanup, and planning—while staying focused on quality, safety, and professionalism. We’ve built this business the slow way: earning trust day by day, reinvesting what we make, and showing up even when it’s hard.
Our GoFundMe
Asking for help was not part of our plan. Our intention from the beginning was to move forward solely with an SBA loan, and continue growing the way we always have—carefully, responsibly, and through our own hard work. Unfortunately, the timing has created a gap that we can’t safely bridge alone.
Every dollar raised here will go directly toward offsetting an SBA loan for a kitchen trailer that will allow us to keep serving the golf course and our community during this transition. Once we reach the amount needed—whether through donations, lending, or a combination of both—this campaign will close to ensure we don't get more than we need.
This GoFundMe is not about convenience or luxury. It’s about protecting something that already exists and has value to the people it serves.
If you’ve supported us before, eaten our food, or believe in small businesses that show up day after day, thank you. If you can’t contribute, sharing our story still helps us more than you know.
DISCLAIMER:
Evidently GoFundMe controls the suggested contribution buttons; please ignore those buttons and type in your desired amount instead anything helps. $50 is incredibly generous by our standards.
