SAN DIEGO — The award-winning Border X Brewing, which earned a James Beard nomination in 2020 for Outstanding Producer in Wine, Beer and Spirits, could close when its lease expires at the end of the year.
"COVID really began to deal some death blows to us that we thought we could survive, but have gradually piled on in such a way that it's really diminished our ability to stay open," Border X Brewing CEO David Favela said.
When Border X Brewing opened 10 years ago, it was one of three pioneering businesses—alongside ¡Salud! Tacos and La Bodega Art Gallery—that set out to reclaim the neighborhood's Mexican cultural heritage. Their success helped inspire nearly 100 other micropreneurs to set up shop in the area.
"We came here 10 years ago to start what we considered a movement of people from the community, building businesses for the community," Favela explains.
But that original trio of cultural anchors is now at risk of disappearing entirely. La Bodega has already closed its doors, and ¡Salud! shuttered this past summer. Border X Brewing could be next, though Favela remains determined to fight for survival.
The building's owner, Maureen D. Hope, says she's open to extending Border X Brewing's lease, but only if the brewery can consistently meet its monthly rent obligations. While no new tenant is currently lined up for the space, the building's long-term future remains uncertain.
For Barrio Logan residents like Alex Cortez, Border X Brewing represents much more than just a place to grab a craft beer.
"Everything around here is about community," Cortez said. "Border X is really big on that, the big anchor for it, and it's like a hub for everybody to come. It's a very welcoming culture, and people love to be embraced by the Mexican culture and share it with others. We welcome that, but let's keep it Mexican."
Favela is working to save the brewery by transforming it into a cultural event space.
"This is not just negotiating with the landlord," Favela said. "Over the next five weeks, you will see a transformation of our whole concept there as we try to explore what the new Border X looks like."
The brewery is seeking community support through multiple channels, including participation in Small Business Saturday on November 30 and a GoFundMe campaign.
"I did the math," Favela notes. "$20 from half of our followers on Instagram would be more than enough to set us back on the right track."
This isn't the first setback for Border X Brewing, which closed its location in Bell, in Los Angeles County, last year, after opening in 2019. However, Favela emphasizes that the potential closure won't affect Las Mujeres Brew House, a separate Barrio Logan establishment owned by his wife, Carmen Velasco-Favela.
"We still have five weeks to fight, and we will," Favela said, underlining his commitment to preserving not just a business, but a crucial piece of Barrio Logan's cultural fabric.