Our Story
I got sober at 25. In 2008, the alcohol-free landscape looked very different than it does today – stigma was higher, and social options were lower. Those early years were some of the most transformative of my life, but they were also lonely. I had to learn how to build relationships and navigate New York City in an entirely new way.
Eventually, I found my rhythm, but I always felt something was missing: a true gathering place built around connection without alcohol at the center.
I spent the next 15 years as a social worker in behavioral health and addiction recovery. Professionally and personally, I saw the same truth over and over: connection and belonging are the strongest pillars of a full life.
As culture began to shift and more people started reevaluating their relationship with alcohol, I decided it was time to build the place that never existed. That idea became The Maze NYC.
The name – inspired by a Phish song – represents the reality that life, recovery, and growth are rarely linear. We wanted to create a space for the twists and turns – a place where people could find purpose and presence.
Today, The Maze is more than a restaurant or a club, it’s a community built on the belief that we all deserve a space where we can truly be ourselves.