Meet AJ Williams | Restaurant Owner

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

Hi AJ, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
Being in the restaurant industry has its ups and downs. Food waste from orders not being picked up or paid cause a major headache.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve been cooking since I was 12 years old. I’ve never worked in a restaurant and I went to school for Information Technology and Computer Science.after realizing that school wasn’t for me I decided to put my focus into food.

I just moved to Los Angeles, about a year ago. I had a successful Vegan restaurant in Miami Beach. I moved here to expand my business and reach a bigger customer base.

The challenges due to COVID and funding have been terrible. It’s hard getting employees when you don’t have the funds to compensate them. And it’s even harder getting a loan or grant to pay those employees when you are a minority or member of certain communities.

In this last year I can’t recall the last break I’ve had I keep working harder each day because I want to pass on skills to my nieces and nephew and those in the community to show them that there are better ways.

It’s hard when you have friends or family that don’t believe in or support you but they’re there when they need you.

I’m a member of LGBTQ community and my community has supported me very strongly since moving here. I also do pop up events. Apart of moving here I was forced to adopt my 2 year old niece and 1 year old nephew.

It’s been a challenge but I believe that the only way a child will fully develop to their best potential is if they’re raised in a positive structured environment. So I’ve been juggling running a successful restaurant and raising 2 kids. It’s no big deal I love them with all my heart. And the expansion of AJs2GO, would allow me to teach them entrepreneurial skills.

But I have learned that patience will get you a lot further and with plenty of prayers things will be good.

My restaurant is my life.

Im a very good person family oriented and cooking makes me happy. I’m a member of Big Brothers Big Sisters where I mentor at risk youth. Your location would help me to teach them other skills versus being in the streets. I also volunteer and feed the homeless once a month.

I feel that we can bring anyone together through food. And AJs2GO is redefining family friendly Neighborhood Takeout.

The road has been bumpy but it’s bumpy because it’s supposed to happen. I’ve learned that to whom much is given much is required and anything worth having is worth fighting for.

So no matter what challenges I face I’m going to continue to fight for those that are overlooked.

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?
Being in Los Angeles we’d get a car drive to all the spots like Venice, Santa Monica, Hollywood sign, Curt Cobains house, the San Diego zoo, Disneyland, and Catalina island.

We’d go to restaurants like Sur, Shibuya, Gucci Osteria, Prime, Maestros, and of course my restaurant AJs2GO.

I’d show them all the spots from popular tv shows and movies and take them to the most iconic gta spots.

We’d definitely take nightly drives and watch the city lights from the top of Mulholland Dr, we’d drive to Mexico walk across the border eat street food explore their culture and learn the origin of California.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My mom

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