As the world wobbles on its axis, comfort food— especially warm, cozy breakfast dishes—can seem particularly enticing.
Jade Copeland, owner of The Little Lion in Ventura, has found that the combination of healthy and indulgent foods has hit a responsive chord.
“I have a background in holistic nutrition. I was trying to find a middle ground between indulgence and health. I try to keep it light, but still fun and indulgent. … You want to feel good,” says Jade, who adds that the menu is made using seed-free oils and all water used is filtered through reverse osmosis. “I’m very passionate about health. I would only put my name on something I believe in.”
Creating a space that would appeal to her tastes, which she has broadened to include her entire age group, was also a priority. “Where would I want to go to lunch? What do I want to see?” she says. “I think I’ve hit the mark.”
Since opening in August 2024, business has been good. “The reception has been overwhelmingly positive,” says Jade. “This was just a project from my heart and soul. I didn’t know how people were going to receive that and whether that translated. But to receive so much positivity from the community in such a short period of time, I get emotional. I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome.”
Although she’s only 33, Jade has been working in the restaurant business for almost 18 years. Her mother, Jan Schuster, is the owner of the Ventura steak houses Prime Italian Steakhouse and Casa Bella, and special events space White House Beach Club.
“My mom was a single mother who raised me herself. She opened her first restaurant when I was 15. She had never done it before. I worked there in high school as a hostess and ended up being the general manager. I was doing operations with her. I decided to go off on my own when I was 30. I had a vision for The Little Lion that was very specific,” says Jade, adding that the name comes from her mother’s astrological sign. “My mom is a Leo, so I’m the little Leo—or the little lion,” she says.
Mom Jan says Jade had no rom-com fantasies about the effort that goes into running a restaurant. “[Jade] didn’t think running a restaurant is going to be a party. It’s a huge commitment. It takes a lot of work,” says Jan. “It’s more than ‘building it and they will come.’ You’ve got to do whatever it takes.”
While many restaurants struggle to find staff, Jade says this hasn’t been an issue for her. “To be an effective leader you have to learn where to adapt and meet people where they are. The restaurant industry can be really toxic. It’s something that I have been resistant to. I’m hell bent on making work a positive environment. I try to be a calm, strong presence. If you lead that way your team will be that way.”
Getting the restaurant up and running was stressful, but Jade got invaluable guidance and help from her boyfriend, Steven Fragiacomo, owner of Beachside Custom Builder. “[Steven] built my entire restaurant from demo to upholstery,” she says. “We met randomly. I had no idea what he did for a living.” Of the restaurant design she says, “I wanted to combine life and art at The Little Lion.”
The Little Lion not only offers breakfast/brunch/lunch daily, along with wine and beers on tap, but they have monthly dinners with special menus and wines for a limited number of people by reservation only.
The Little Lion
Open daily 8am–3pm weekdays and 8am–4pm weekends
5952 Telegraph Rd. Ventura.
805-620-0804 | @littlelionventura
