Eleven years ago, a family banded together to establish a brewing company celebrating Hispanic culture through beers infused with ingredients such as hibiscus, agave and cinnamon. Dubbed Border X Brewing, it launched in an Otay industrial park. Roughly two years later, owners David and Carmen Favela secured a homey spot in the northeast section of Barrio Logan in which to build a new home for their small but growing operation. In doing so, they used that space to convey the rich essence of their heritage through Chicano artwork on interior and exterior walls, the bar top and furniture, as well as music and community-driven events, including Loteria Tuesdays and an anniversary corresponding with Dia de los Muertos.
Treasured by locals, particularly the South Bay denizens whose culture the business celebrates, Border X quickly grew into a hot spot, generating enough business and far-reaching brand recognition to inspire the Favelas to expand, building a 7,000-square-foot production facility in the Los Angeles city of Bell. That location opened to the public in 2019 and was well patronized. The following year, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Favelas expanded again, this time opening a brewery for an offshoot brand called Mujeres Brew House in the former home of short-lived Alta Brewing less than a half-mile from Border X’s Barrio Logan home base. Woman-owned and operated with an all-Latina staff and female Head Brewer Samantha Olson at the helm, it quickly earned plenty of press and a positive reputation spanning far beyond San Diego County.
Even with the blessing and backing of so many, Border X was not immune to the challenges that plagued breweries and small businesses during and following the aforementioned pandemic. David Favela has long been vocal via his personal social-media accounts about how difficult it has been to maintain his business. That includes messages conveyed in July of last year, when Border X’s Bell location closed down, as well as last week, when the company shared news that its days at its Barrio Logan location are most likely numbered.
The following is an excerpt from a message posted to the company’s various social-media accounts on Thursday, November 14……