Meet Daneyel Walker | Cafe and Eatery

We had the good fortune of connecting with Daneyel Walker and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Daneyel, what’s the most important lesson your business/career has taught you?
The most important lesson my business has taught me is that service starts with intention, not transaction. Building a community-centered business has shown me that impact goes far beyond sales; it’s about how people feel when they leave your space. I’ve learned that consistency, compassion, and authenticity create trust, and trust is what keeps a community coming back.

Running a business, especially in an underserved neighborhood, has also taught me resilience. Challenges will come, but if your purpose is strong, your vision will carry you through. Every obstacle has sharpened my creativity, strengthened my leadership, and deepened my commitment to showing up with excellence, even on the hard days.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m the Co-founder of The Mental Bar, a café and community hub in Southeast San Diego, where coffee, wellness, and culture meet. What sets us apart isn’t just our drinks, it’s our mission. We’re rooted in the belief that hospitality can be a healing practice, and that a café can be more than a business; it can be a safe space, a third space, a gathering place, and a catalyst for community change.

I’m most proud of the way we’ve blended purpose with service. We host events that support mental health, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship. We create opportunities for local vendors, teach youth-centered workshops, and use our platform to elevate Black joy, Black culture, and community empowerment.

Getting here was far from easy. We built this business with grit and faith, often with limited capital, little rest, and a deep sense of responsibility to my neighborhood. There were moments I questioned if I could keep going, but I leaned on my values, my team, and my community. I learned to ask for help, to pivot without shame, and to celebrate progress, not just perfection.

What I want the world to know is that The Mental Bar isn’t just a coffee shop, it’s a movement. It’s a story of reclaiming space, rewriting narratives, and doing business with heart. And I’m not just a business owner, I’m a woman who chose to serve, to grow, and to believe that a single cup of coffee can start a revolution.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend came to visit, I’d give them a soulful San Diego experience, equal parts culture, flavor, and community.

We’d start at The Mental Bar with tea and good energy, then explore Chollas Lake or Mission Bay. Beach days in La Jolla, sunsets at Sunset Cliffs, and soul food from Surl and Soul or Coops for some BBQ would be non-negotiable. We’d hit Barrio Logan for tacos, murals, and local art, and unwind with music at a rooftop lounge.

We’d spend time grounding with yoga or journaling by the water. Whether dancing in Hillcrest, dancing in North Park, or wine tasting in Encinitas, every day would be full of joy, intention, and connection.

That’s the San Diego I know and love, and that’s the experience I’d want to share.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My shoutout goes to the village that held me up, starting with my family, especially my husband, who stood beside me as we built this dream from the ground up. I also want to honor my team at The Mental Bar, who show up every day with heart and purpose. They are the soul of our space, and their belief in the vision keeps it alive.

I owe deep gratitude to the San Diego Black Artist and Culture community, our customers, our elders, and our youth, who chose to believe in a business that wasn’t just selling coffee, but creating connection and culture.

Website: https://thementalbar.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thementalbar/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/

Twitter: https://x.com/bemental1234

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thementalbar

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-mental-bar-san-diego-2?osq=The+Mental+Bar