Crafting Men’s Wellness
Small Business, Big Impact
By Zach Jewell
A few short months ago, San Antonio’s West Side lost a local gem to the fight for survival that many local businesses are enduring daily: Mad Pecker Brewing Co., owned by Jason Gonzalez, was a neighborhood favorite brewery and pub for nearly 10 years before it closed its doors. They hosted a going-away blowout, and messages of support and disappointment came flooding in before a final goodbye message went out over social media. It is devastating to watch our favorite local businesses buckle under the weight of a struggling economy, not only for the business owners, but for the employees and patrons who thrive and connect in these spaces. Amidst the gloom however, the neighborhood pub’s recent return is a heartening development for a space once thought forever lost.
Mad Pecker, like many other breweries, hosted innumerable trivia nights, game nights, and sporting events for the community to come together and find solace and enjoyment in the company of others. They also advocated for men’s mental health by hosting a local chapter for a nonprofit organization, Into the Dark Blue, which centers on providing men a place to build community around mental wellness. Mad Pecker has worked with Into the Dark Blue since 2021, partnering up for a beer collaboration that brought awareness to self-harm issues nationwide and hosting a short film release party advocating for the importance of men’s mental health initiatives with other San Antonio-based businesses like Sheath Underwear, Alamo Botanicals, and San Antonio Clubhouse.
Into The Dark Blue currently hosts 12 men’s group chapters at independent craft breweries and coffee shops from Anchorage to Long Island, and Mad Pecker Brewing was one of the flagship locations. Into the Dark Blue ambassador and long-time member, Brandon Cox commented on the importance of the space Mad Pecker provides men in our city: “Hosting this group at Mad Pecker means meeting in a space that feels comfortable, familiar, and judgment-free. It breaks down barriers that often keep men from opening up. For me and for other men in my community, it’s become a place where real conversations happen; where we’re reminded that we’re not alone in what we’re going through.” Thanks to small business owners like Gonzales at Mad Pecker and others alike, men in these communities have an opportunity to improve their mental health for fre
It is crucial to actively support local small businesses. Oftentimes, it is less about money and more about community outreach and impact. Supporting these small businesses could also mean supporting local animal shelters, children’s hospitals, veterans, and more. San Antonio and the surrounding area are full of small businesses of all shapes and sizes, from all backgrounds and influences. If one really wanted to, they could travel around the world within the Alamo City, all through culinary and cultural experiences.
Vivek Murthy, former U.S. Surgeon General, had a platform based on what he called the “loneliness epidemic.” His focus was on addressing the increasing loneliness and separation among humans, especially during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Technological convenience, new cultural norms, and fear-based living have caused many to cease seeking connection in the same ways they used to, leading them to experience feelings of loneliness on new levels. Humans are wired for connection. They are pack animals. Murphy states that, “22% of all adults in the U.S. say they often or always feel lonely or socially isolated.” This percentage translates to over 55 million people. Programs for adults to combat loneliness are hard to come by.
Historically, one of the most accessible options for finding community and reducing loneliness has been joining a religious group of some sort; however, this becomes a less likely solution as the culture in the U.S. shifts further away from trusting organized religion as a source of personal fulfillment. This means that small niche places for people to make connections are becoming increasingly important, and large corporations — while good at executing fundraising campaigns — cannot be relied upon to bring people together in a way that creates a consistent community. This is where small business owners come into play.
On any given day in San Antonio, one can find a coffee shop, restaurant, or local organization to attend a weekly or monthly community event. There are opportunities for nearly anyone and everyone to find a place to belong and thrive. Websites like Meetup.com and Facebook events hold seemingly endless potential for finding events to improve your mental wellness through connecting with others in your area.
The reopening of Mad Pecker Brewing promises a weekly public game night on Tuesdays at 7 pm, trivia every Wednesday at 7 pm, and of course, the men’s mental health group on the first Tuesday of every month at 7 pm.
Gonzales exuded a sense of pride and excitement regarding bringing Into The Dark Blue back into Mad Pecker Brewing when they reopened. “Our partnership with Into the Dark Blue has been mutually beneficial to both of our organizational approaches and goals of providing a network and place that will continue to bring awareness to men's mental health as well as other important issues. We are looking forward to many more meetups and collaborations that will keep the conversations going,” said Gonzalez.
The topic of men’s mental health has been a hot topic since the impact of COVID, and the release of Ted Lasso, an Apple TV series that regularly touched on mental health ideas and the importance of community support. In the series, Lasso, played by Jason Sudeikis, said, "I promise you, there is something worse out there than being sad, and that's being alone and being sad." This is a sentiment that many have met head-on over the past five years.
Thanks to business owners like Gonzales and the support of a community that understands the value of establishments like his, organizations like Into the Dark Blue can thrive and strive to meet their mission as they are, “...always striving to foster a community of peers which empowers mental wellness, positive growth, and social awareness,” said Gonzales. A personal account from long-time group member Sam Faye exemplifies the impact of the group’s mission, and the service being done by Mad Pecker Brewing, et al:
“Attending this monthly meetup with a diverse group of guys who are ailing to get real about mental health and wellness is an essential part of my personal growth. The Dark Blue has always felt like a safe and affirming place to honestly explore my emotions, needs, and values with other men who understand the importance of introspection and self-improvement — we make each other better, and I’m here for it.” ■
If you or someone you know might benefit from building a community around mental health with other men, you can find a Dark Blue meeting at the following locations in the San Antonio area:
San Antonio
Mad Pecker Brewing Company
First Tuesday of the month, 7:00pm | 6025 Tezel Rd #122, San Antonio, TX 78250
Freetail Brewing
First Monday of the month, 7:00pm | 4035 N Loop 1604 W, San Antonio, TX 78257
Boerne
Cibolo Creek Brewing
First Monday of the month, 7:00pm | 448 S Main St, Boerne, TX 78006
Visit intothedarkblue.com for more information, to become a group ambassador, or donate to the organization to help contribute to making their first annual men’s retreat a more affordable experience for those who might not otherwise be able to attend.
The groups are modeled as peer and self-led growth, and are not facilitated as licensed therapy. They are held in breweries and coffee shops around the U.S. to provide safe and inviting atmospheres to promote preventative mental wellness. All are welcome regardless of race, religion, lifestyle, or background. The groups host social events and/or community impact days once a month to further strengthen relationships, mental wellness, and social connection. Head on out to support a local business by supporting your own mental and emotional health!
Vivek Murthy - Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World a.co/d/aq51PCC
Into the Dark Blue Podcast episode with Mad Pecker owner, Jason Gonzales:
