We had the good fortune of connecting with Izzy Arechiga-Arias and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Izzy, can you share the most important lesson you’ve learned over the course of your career?
Owning my own business has been a very interesting balance of finding who comes first. From day 1 I had to learn that this isn’t about me; it is about the community, employees and customers. As a business owner I have dozens of different business ideas all of which Mystic Mocha sort of became a mixture of. More importantly though, my main concern was creating an environment that was what the community wanted and that our awesome baristas and cooks would want to work at. From the moment I received the keys I started asking around the neighborhood what they would like the place to be. Many things that I wanted to do I had to put on the back burner because, there is no point in making a place that is tailored to myself if it is not what people are looking for. Losing the ego of being a business owner and becoming an employee and community member first was crucial.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I have learned a lot along the way, but I think the most important thing is that “people over profit” really is the way to go. It makes me so happy knowing that my coworkers enjoy working at Mystic Mocha. If the employees are happy then so will the customers, easy as that. I would rather charge less and have people keep coming back whether its for just a black coffee, breakfast, their 3rd latte of the day or even just to say hi. Maybe pups over profit should be added in there too, we do love being your dogs favorite place as well. I think if theres something I want readers to know is that Mystic Mocha is something that came to be from the love I have for this industry. I just went to my 10 year high school reunion and I think if 18 y/o Izzy saw me now he would d be pretty stoked that I stuck to this goal. I still remember when I went to my first restaurant interview and got hired as a busboy/dish washer, the manager asked me what my 10 year goal was… I swear I said “to own my own restaurant”.
So in summary I am more driven by becoming the neighborhood’s favorite spot more than anything.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
For activities, definitely catching a SD Wave and SD Loyal game! Picnic at Kate Sessions, Biking around UH, Disc Golf at Morley Field, Museums at Balboa, Catching a Comedy Show, or just walking around South Park, North Park and University Heights.

For Drinks and Food.. obviously Im starting with coffee and breakfast at Mystic Mocha haha. Its San Diego, you cant leave with out trying some of the best Mexican food in the country! Karinas Tacos el Gordo, Revolucion, 664 TJ Birrieria, Pokez, etc.

If its as hot as it has been lately let’s go grab a beer to cool off, 3 Punk Ales, Border X Brewing, Embolden Brewing, Mujeres Brew House, Taproom Brewing, Kairoa Brewing, Rouleur Brewing…the list goes on!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Making Mystic Mocha happen was as much me as it was my family. Mom, dad, brothers and sisters in law were in there taking things apart, cleaning, painting, building, all of it. So thank you for being there for me and the hours you put into making this happen. Mystic Mocha officially opened on March 7th 2020 at 7am, at 1am that same morning they were still there with me getting everything ready.

After having been open for about 1.5 years, the shoutout has to be shared with the most important people at Mystic Mocha, my coworkers. Everyone brings their own personality, vibes, jokes, talents and service. Mystic Mocha employees really are the dream team and I couldn’t ask for a better group of people to work with day in and day out. So with that being said, next time we go bowling its on me.

Website: mysticmocha.org

Instagram: @mysticmochacafe

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/mystic-mocha

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