We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Daneyel & Tommy Walker a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Daneyel & Tommy, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

The Mental Bar was created so that underserved communities could have the opportunity to experience a coffee shop that they felt comfortable in and connected to. We wanted to break away from the typical feel of the corporate environment of coffee shops. We started as e-commerce and still have our e-commerce, but our values and mission really shined through once The Mental Bar opened. We are a unique business and we are located in a unique area of San Diego. Shortly after we opened, Encanto was declared the “Black Culture and Arts District” and we are ecstatic to be a part of that history.

Daneyel & Tommy, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

We initially didn’t know much about coffee in terms of it being a business. What we did know, though, is that we a passionate about health, wellness, and community. Coffee and tea have always brought all different types of people together, at all different times of the day, for different types of reasons. We love that connection. We knew we wanted to take the items that connected people and execute them in a place where everyone felt welcomed, especially those of underserved communities. We are extremely proud of what we have accomplished. Taking a vision and executing it is never easy. There were issues with the construction that held us back for a while but it came together and it’s exactly what we wanted. What sets The Mental Bar apart from any other coffee shop is its combination of hip-hop and meditation vibes. If you’re wondering what that looks like, then you have to stop by.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

We are our market. We are not trying to be a brand that is just aesthetics. We believe in our vision and we believe in the people who support us. Besides coffee, tea, and food, we offer our shop as a place people can just come together and connect. While we will always appreciate purchases, the community is always welcome to stop by and just kick it. We support local BIPOC creators, from art to literature. We were there when Encanto was declared The Black Culture and Arts District. We were there when the giant community mural was painted. We will always be there for our community. Safe spaces are trusted spaces and that’s something we value.

Can you open up about a time when you had a really close call with the business?

Being in the food industry has a lot of risks, some that you can control and some that you cannot. The biggest close call we’ve dealt with is an employee not following proper oven procedures and the parchment paper caught on fire. As owners, this moment, although very small, was terrifying. We were not only worried about the property but of course the people. Luckily, no major damage happened and everyone was safe. We used the close call as a teaching opportunity and ensured our team was comfortable with the safety procedures in place.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thementalbar.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thementalbar/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thementalbar/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-mental-bar-san-diego-2