Every weekend, Bree Juan and her 14‑year‑old son, Sky, load a U‑Haul in Orange County and drive to Koreatown to sell quesadillas; a routine that has grown into a small business and a source of confidence for the teen, who has autism.
Juan said the early days of BreeSky’s Quesadillas were difficult. With only one tent, one pan and a cooler, she often sold just a handful of items during long days outdoors.
“We would go out from 9 a.m. all the way to 7 p.m., and we would sell like one quesadilla. Maybe three,” she said. “It was very, very, very hard.”
The stand now attracts long lines, boosted in part by videos Juan posted online showing her routine and updates on the business.
But Juan said the stand was never just about earning money. After years of bullying at school, she moved her son to a new district, where she said he began to thrive. Now, he’s taking college classes while helping run the family business.
“I told him he can do it,” she said. “Just because you have autism doesn’t mean you’re not capable of learning and doing everything.”
Sky helps take orders and process payments, a role Juan believes has helped him build social skills and independence. Customers who discovered the family on social media have traveled to support them, including other single mothers and families with children on the autism spectrum.
Laura, a customer with a grandson who has autism, said she ordered “one of each” on the menu after waiting more than an hour in line.
“I wanted to come support,” she said, adding that once she saw Juan working alone in the heat, the trip felt even more meaningful. “We’re supposed to be on a diet… but we still wanted to support her.”
Another customer, Tina Cline, said she relates to Juan’s determination.
“I’m a single mom of two boys, so I do hustles,” she said. “But I’m proud of her. Soon she will have her own restaurant.”
Juan said watching her son develop confidence keeps her going.
“For the longest time I kept him in a shell,” she said. “Now I realize he can do it.”
Her message to other parents raising children with autism is simple: “It’s hard… especially doing it alone… but I feel like everybody can do it.”