By Trinity Murchie, Arizona Silver Belt
After a little more than a year in business, Meading of the Minds is pressing pause.
Owner and mead mistress Christa Jennings announced that the Miami meadery will temporarily close as she prepares to welcome a new addition to her family. While the business itself may have only been open for a short time, Jennings’ impact on the community has stretched far beyond serving honey wine flights.
Originally opened with a former partner, Meading of the Minds quickly evolved into more than a niche mead bar. The space became a gathering place for the community, hosting live music, silent art auctions, tattoo fundraisers, produce sales, and countless other events that brought residents together.
Beyond the meadery, Jennings has become known for her dedication to Miami itself. She leads Last Saturdays in the Hole, helps organize the Keystone Climb, participates in Trashy Thursdays, and has pursued opportunities to serve on community boards focused on the town’s future.
The meadery’s presence in Miami also carried a degree of historical significance. Mead, often referred to as honey wine, is one of the oldest alcoholic beverages in the world. In a community that celebrates its history and heritage, Meading of the Minds offered something distinct from a traditional bar experience. It became a place where people gathered not only for drinks, but for conversation, art, music, and community events.
Ironically, the original vision for the meadery was not entirely Jennings’ own. The business began as a shared dream with her former husband. As life circumstances changed, Jennings found herself in a position to reimagine both the business and her role within it. While the meadery helped establish her presence in the community, future ventures may reflect even more of her own ideas and priorities.
Recently, Jennings learned she is expecting a child and is due in November. With a growing family and a full calendar of community commitments, she made the decision to place the business on hold while focusing on the next chapter of life.
To celebrate that next chapter, Meading of the Minds hosted a Pregnancy Pause Party on May 29 and 30. The event featured half-priced mead, food from The Bento Guy, and a steady stream of community members stopping by to wish Jennings well. Many attendees left with bottles of mead—some purchasing a few favorites and others buying entire cases—while many more stayed to enjoy flights and spend time together. The turnout reflected the relationships Jennings has built during her time in business. The closure is expected to be temporary.
Jennings’ partner, Rick Hall, recently purchased a large building at the corner of Sullivan Street and Keystone Avenue alongside his father. Unlike the current location, the highly visible corner property offers large storefront windows and a stronger presence along one of Miami’s prominent downtown intersections.
While plans are still evolving, Jennings hopes to reopen sometime next year, potentially in a reimagined format. Among the possibilities being explored is a change in licensing that could allow the business to expand beyond its current model. Jennings is investigating options that may transform the venture into something more closely aligned with a specialty market or grocery concept, though no final decisions have been made.
The new location presents opportunities not only for expanded business operations, but also for creating another gathering place within downtown Miami. Given Jennings’ history of blending business with community involvement, many residents are already curious to see what comes next.
Whatever ultimately takes shape, community building appears likely to remain at the center of it. Whether through events, volunteer efforts, local partnerships, or a future business concept, Jennings has repeatedly demonstrated that her focus extends beyond commerce and into finding new ways to strengthen the town she calls home.
While the future business model remains uncertain, one thing appears clear: Jennings has no plans to step away from the community she has helped re-energize. When asked whether community initiatives such as the Keystone Climb would continue despite the temporary closure of the meadery, Jennings offered a simple answer.
“Absolutely.”
