In an Instagram post published on May 12, the women-founded brewery and community gathering space stated that it is undergoing a 15-day “costly suspension” tied to its alcohol license, application fees, and new health department permitting requirements. The company has since launched a GoFundMe campaign seeking financial support to help cover operating expenses during the interruption.
“We will not cancel CULTURE at Mujeres at almost 6 years,” the brewery wrote in one post with comments disabled. “We will close our doors if we do not come to a resolution. We are not just a Brewery and will never be. We are a Community Space that operates like a non profit and Celebrates our CULTURE.”
The announcement represents another major challenge for the broader Border X Brewing ecosystem, which has experienced mounting operational and financial strain in recent years. Border X Brewing, the pioneering Barrio Logan brewery that helped launch Mujeres Brew House, shuttered its longtime Logan Avenue headquarters in early 2025 following pandemic-related financial difficulties, lease issues, and accumulated debt. Earlier this year, Border X began testing a possible revival through a pop-up event in Old Town San Diego.
Mujeres Brew House opened in November 2020 inside the Bread & Salt complex at 1983 Julian Avenue in Logan Heights, taking over the former Alta Brewing space. The concept emerged from Mujeres Brew Club, a female-focused craft beer education initiative founded by Carmen Velasco and Esthela Davila with ties to Border X Brewing founder David Favela, Carmen's husband. The brewery quickly became known as more than just a taproom, positioning itself as a cultural hub centered around Latino art, music, food, activism, and community gatherings.
The company’s branding and messaging have consistently emphasized its role as a community-centered cultural space rather than a traditional brewery. In its latest statement, Mujeres described itself as a venue where “all funds are directed back into the Community, Arts, Music and Culture,” adding that beer sales help fund those efforts.
Publicly available California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control records reviewed Tuesday show Mujeres Brew House currently holds an active Type 23 Small Beer Manufacturer license issued in November 2024. However, the license also carries a series of operating restrictions that appear potentially relevant to the brewery’s programming and event operations.
Among the listed restrictions are prohibitions on live entertainment of any kind, including live music, DJs, karaoke, performers, and fashion shows. The license further prohibits audible amplified sound outside the premises and requires patio alcohol service to end by 10pm. Mujeres has historically hosted music events, community gatherings, cultural programming, and private celebrations that have become central to its identity and revenue model.
The company’s branding and messaging have consistently emphasized its role as a community-centered cultural space rather than a traditional brewery. In its latest statement, Mujeres described itself as a venue where “all funds are directed back into the Community, Arts, Music and Culture,” adding that beer sales help fund those efforts.
Publicly available California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control records reviewed Tuesday show Mujeres Brew House currently holds an active Type 23 Small Beer Manufacturer license issued in November 2024. However, the license also carries a series of operating restrictions that appear potentially relevant to the brewery’s programming and event operations.
Among the listed restrictions are prohibitions on live entertainment of any kind, including live music, DJs, karaoke, performers, and fashion shows. The license further prohibits audible amplified sound outside the premises and requires patio alcohol service to end by 10pm. Mujeres has historically hosted music events, community gatherings, cultural programming, and private celebrations that have become central to its identity and revenue model.
While the ABC database currently lists no formal disciplinary history, active holds, or revocation notices tied to the license, Mujeres’ social media posts reference “working behind the scenes with city officials and local enforcement to remain in compliance moving forward.”
"The fee was $6k or 15 day suspension," explained Velasco. "I definitely couldn’t pay 6k. So I had no choice."
The company has not publicly detailed the exact cause of the suspension, whether it originated from ABC enforcement, permitting conflicts, zoning compliance concerns, or operational violations. The business also noted that it is simultaneously navigating “new health department permits.”
The situation is particularly significant within Barrio Logan and Logan Heights, where Mujeres has become part of a shrinking collection of independently operated cultural businesses attempting to survive rising operating costs, permitting complexities, redevelopment pressures, and post-pandemic economic instability. In recent years, several longtime neighborhood institutions and hospitality concepts have either closed or faced significant operational challenges.
Mujeres has framed the current situation as a fight to preserve a community-centered cultural venue. During the suspension period running from May 21 through June 4, the business says it plans to continue operating with non-alcoholic offerings only, including mocktails and kombucha collaborations.
The brewery’s newly launched GoFundMe campaign had raised more than $640 from 13 donors as of Tuesday evening toward a stated goal of $2,400. According to the campaign, funds will help cover staff wages, rent, utilities, and reopening compliance efforts during the suspension period.
Founded by San Diego native Carmen A. Velasco, Mujeres Brew House became one of the region’s few women-led breweries and one of the first brewery concepts in San Diego explicitly centered around Chicano culture and female empowerment within the craft beer industry. Over the years, the business has hosted art events, local markets, music programming, educational workshops, and fundraising initiatives while cultivating a loyal following across San Diego’s Latino creative community.
As of publication, Mujeres Brew House has not yet released additional specifics regarding the nature of the suspension or what steps must occur in order for normal alcohol service to resume after June 4.
Mujeres Brew House is located at 1983 Julian Avenue in San Diego’s Logan Heights neighborhood. For more information, visit mbhsd.com.
The company has not publicly detailed the exact cause of the suspension, whether it originated from ABC enforcement, permitting conflicts, zoning compliance concerns, or operational violations. The business also noted that it is simultaneously navigating “new health department permits.”
The situation is particularly significant within Barrio Logan and Logan Heights, where Mujeres has become part of a shrinking collection of independently operated cultural businesses attempting to survive rising operating costs, permitting complexities, redevelopment pressures, and post-pandemic economic instability. In recent years, several longtime neighborhood institutions and hospitality concepts have either closed or faced significant operational challenges.
Mujeres has framed the current situation as a fight to preserve a community-centered cultural venue. During the suspension period running from May 21 through June 4, the business says it plans to continue operating with non-alcoholic offerings only, including mocktails and kombucha collaborations.
The brewery’s newly launched GoFundMe campaign had raised more than $640 from 13 donors as of Tuesday evening toward a stated goal of $2,400. According to the campaign, funds will help cover staff wages, rent, utilities, and reopening compliance efforts during the suspension period.
Founded by San Diego native Carmen A. Velasco, Mujeres Brew House became one of the region’s few women-led breweries and one of the first brewery concepts in San Diego explicitly centered around Chicano culture and female empowerment within the craft beer industry. Over the years, the business has hosted art events, local markets, music programming, educational workshops, and fundraising initiatives while cultivating a loyal following across San Diego’s Latino creative community.
As of publication, Mujeres Brew House has not yet released additional specifics regarding the nature of the suspension or what steps must occur in order for normal alcohol service to resume after June 4.
Mujeres Brew House is located at 1983 Julian Avenue in San Diego’s Logan Heights neighborhood. For more information, visit mbhsd.com.
Originally published on May 12, 2026.