Last August, the owners of 10-year-old Bolt Brewery announced they were putting their La Mesa headquarters on the market. A prime piece of real estate coming in at roughly 5,000 square feet, the location includes, not only a fully functioning brewery, but a large turfed outdoor area with sidewalks, a shipping container bar and loads of shaded seating, all of which made it a popular, family-friendly spot where locals could congregate over local beer. Despite those amenities, the listing languished for months, but that may have ultimately been for the best, because the individual who is now in escrow on the property, Cameron Valentine, will be introducing a concept that is entirely unique and seemingly perfect for the space. Going by the moniker Breeds & Brew the business aims to provide a fun, safe space for dogs and their owners to relax, unwind and enjoy some treats. The latter will include dog biscuits, pup cups and canine hydration options, while humans will be able to indulge in two things that bring people together: coffee and craft beer. Valentine is working with a pair of brewing industry veterans so that once he has the keys, he can get Breeds & Brew’s beer program going as quickly as possible. Figuring he’ll be really busy really soon, we caught up with him ahead of the storm to learn more about what he has in store for La Mesa.
When did you come up with the initial idea for Breeds & Brew?
The idea first came to me in my college dorm room back in 2019. Growing up, I faced challenges with depression and anxiety, especially after my mom left when I was seven. I never truly prioritized my mental health until I hit rock bottom in college. At that point, I stopped blaming my circumstances and took full accountability for my life. I made the decision to stop living for other people’s expectations and instead build something meaningful for myself. One day, while skipping my classes, I stumbled upon a YouTube video about a dog water park in Spain. Something about it just clicked – it was an instant “aha” moment. I knew right then that I wanted to create a space where both dogs and their owners could connect in a fun, controlled environment. I made the bold decision to drop out of school, move back home and commit to this vision. However, I knew I lacked the necessary management experience, so I took a job at UPS with the specific goal of becoming a supervisor. That role gave me invaluable leadership and operational skills, which have directly contributed to the foundation of Breeds & Brew.
What made Bolt Brewery’s location ideal for your business?
In July 2023, after the pandemic settled down, I officially filed for my LLC. From that point on, I was on a relentless search for the perfect location. I looked at everything – underutilized parking lots, raw land, old dealership lots – but none of them felt quite right. I needed a space that already had a strong foundation for what I envisioned, which made the search challenging. I actually only became aware of Bolt Brewery’s listing about a month ago. I was on the City of La Mesa’s website, looking for contact information for the mayor, who, fun fact, was my second-grade teacher back in 2001 at Murdock Elementary. While searching, I came across the city’s list of commercial vacancies and saw Bolt listed. The moment I saw it, I knew: This is it. The property already had everything I needed – a bar, tables, shaded areas, a fully fenced perimeter, live entertainment and food truck permits, and most importantly, a liquor license. The infrastructure was already in place, which meant I could focus on refining the concept rather than starting from scratch. I never imagined I’d be able to launch my business at such a reasonable price point, and it felt like a perfect alignment of opportunity and vision.
Please tell me your plans for renovating the space to make it as hospitable as possible for your four-legged clientele.
The previous owners took great care of the space, so the renovations will be minimal but impactful. The biggest transformation will be installing high-quality turf throughout the patio area, along with a small water feature and misters to keep dogs cool on hot days. We’ll also revamp the brewhouse and storage containers with fresh paint and a modern aesthetic. I plan to incorporate small agility equipment to provide enrichment for dogs of all sizes. And of course we’ll have essential amenities like complimentary poop bags, fresh water stations, and shaded seating areas for both dogs and their humans.
Aside from day-to-day operations, what events and programming do you plan to implement?
My goal is to make Breeds & Brew more than just a dog park, but also a community hub. We’ll be hosting a range of events and activities, including curated workshops for dog training, nutrition, enrichment and more, movie nights under the stars, puppy yoga sessions, adoption events in collaboration with rescues, live entertainment and seasonal celebrations such as Halloween costume contests and holiday markets. The heart of Breeds & Brew is engagement – not just between dogs, but between people. Members will have the opportunity to connect, socialize and create lasting memories with their dogs in a safe and controlled environment. One of the unique aspects of our membership model is that the dogs are the primary members. Each dog can bring up to five human guests at a time, provided they have their own profile and have signed our waiver. This ensures a structured, community-oriented experience where every guest understands the rules and respects the environment we’re creating. In addition to these events, I’m also in the process of establishing a nonprofit arm of Breeds & Brew. The goal is to match shelter puppies with disabled veterans for service animal training. As someone who has served in the military myself, I understand the impact that a well-trained service dog can have on a veteran’s life. This initiative is a way for me to give back to both the dog rescue community and those who have served.
Breeds & Brew will be located at 8179 Center Street in La Mesa