Mr. and Mrs. Hernandez just bought a home in Orange and are excited to become more involved in the community together.

Lauren and Mike appreciate each other’s work ethics, and love to have fun together.

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Love'n the New Year

For business owners and newlyweds Lauren Miller and Mike Hernandez, it wasn’t exactly love at first sight.  Lauren, who owns Laurenly Boutique on North Glassell, didn’t appreciate Smoqued Barbeque’s trucks that often blocked her store’s parking spot.  The trucks, of course, belonged to Mike, who opened Smoqued a few doors  down from Laurenly.  Though they disagree on Lauren’s tone, they do agree that their first meeting in 2013 in the parking lot was not particularly pleasant.

Shortly after that first encounter, Lauren and a friend went into Smoqued for drinks and ended up talking with Mike and Smoqued’s chef until 3 am.  Despite their first encounter, they couldn’t help be intrigued by each other.  “I saw this girl coming and going, nonstop into the late hours,” says Mike.  “It impressed me how hard she worked.”

During that night at Smoqued, the two learned that they had more in common than they initially thought.  “We’re the same person,” says Lauren, who cites their work ethic and sense of humor as similarities.  “It’s like I married myself,” adds Mike.

The couple started dating after an impromptu weekend trip with Mike’s friends.  They became engaged in April 2015 and were married by November of the same year.  While the two business owners sometimes struggle to leave the managing at work, ultimately, having their businesses so close has proven to be beneficial.

“Mike comes in and checks on my store when I’m at my other location, and all of the girls at Laurenly encourage people to dine at Smoqued,” says Lauren.  “It’s a family.  It’s nice to see people come in here with the pink Laurenly bags,” adds Mike.

The couple recently bought a home in Orange and plan to become more involved in the community.  “The bottom line is that we both like to laugh.  We work really hard, but life’s just about having fun,” says Lauren.

Smoqued Barbeque
128 North Glassell St., Old Towne Orange, CA 92866  /  714-633-7427

Laurenly Boutique
142 North Glassell St., Old Towne Orange, CA 92866  /  714-538-7467
(no longer open in Old Towne Orange)