Today we’d like to introduce you to Madison Ortega.
Hi Madison, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in San Antonio, Texas — a city known for its vibrant culture, rich history, and incredible food. While it’s a beautiful place to live, it’s never been a particularly health-focused city. Growing up here and witnessing how that impacted the community, including my own family, I felt called to be part of a shift — to help bring more awareness to health and wellness in a way that felt approachable and rooted in love.
In my early 20s, I began my own wellness journey to heal physically, mentally, and spiritually. Along the way, I worked at Urth Juice Bar, where I was introduced to the power of raw juices and whole, nourishing foods — nature’s bounty. I was incredibly lucky to have a mentor, Elsa Alonzo, who generously shared her knowledge and helped shape my understanding of holistic health.
When I met my husband, Santiago, he was working through his own health issues. I supported him by eliminating inflammatory foods from his diet and introducing him to juicing and whole food nutrition. He believed in me from the beginning and encouraged me to start something of my own. At the time, I was working in tech at a digital marketing agency, but in July 2019, I took the leap. We decided to bet on ourselves and launch Southwest Elixirs.
We started small — popping up at markets around the city, selling cold-pressed juices. Eventually, we bought a food trailer, our beloved “juice box,” and set up on the East Side. In November 2019, we officially opened for business. We were fortunate to weather the challenges of the pandemic, and in April 2021, we opened the doors to our brick-and-mortar wellness café — the space we had dreamed of creating.
What began with just juices, shots, and cashew milks has now grown into a full menu including superfood smoothies, smoothie bowls, coffee, matcha, and a whole food program with sandwiches, salads, and toasts. We’re proud to be part of the health movement in San Antonio, and we’re just getting started.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s certainly been a journey filled with both challenges and growth. Running a small business has demanded more resilience than I could’ve imagined — especially when it comes to navigating rising costs and sourcing high-quality ingredients without compromising our values.
We’ve always prioritized quality and education, even when that means tighter margins or harder conversations around pricing. San Antonio has made great strides in wellness, but community education is still a big part of our mission.
Staffing has also been a consistent challenge, which means time off has been rare. But even through the hard seasons, the work feels deeply meaningful — and that’s what fuels us.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Southwest Elixirs is a wellness café based in San Antonio, Texas, focused on making whole, nourishing foods and functional beverages more accessible to our community. We specialize in cold-pressed juices, superfood smoothies, smoothie bowls, wellness shots, cashew milks, matcha, coffee, and thoughtfully crafted food offerings like sandwiches, toasts, and salads — all made with high-quality, nutrient-dense ingredients.
What sets us apart is our commitment to intention and integrity in everything we do. We don’t cut corners when it comes to sourcing — we use organic and locally sourced ingredients whenever possible, and every item on our menu is designed to nourish the body, support energy, and promote healing. Our recipes are rooted in nature, inspired by our own personal wellness journeys, and created with care.
We’re also proud to be a woman-owned and latin-owned, family-run business. The energy at Southwest Elixirs is warm, inclusive, and community-centered — we’ve created a space that feels like a little oasis in the heart of San Antonio, where people can feel good, fuel up, and reconnect with their health.
Brand-wise, we’re most proud of how we’ve stayed true to our mission — even as we’ve grown. Whether it’s someone discovering the power of a green juice for the first time or a regular stopping in for their favorite smoothie bowl, we’re here to help people feel better in their bodies and empowered in their wellness.
We want readers to know that wellness doesn’t have to be intimidating. At Southwest Elixirs, we make it fun, flavorful, and accessible — and we’re here to support your journey, wherever you are on the path.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Finding a mentor often happens more organically than we expect. In my case, I was lucky to cross paths with Elsa Alonzo while working at Urth Juice Bar. I didn’t go looking for a mentor — I showed up curious, eager to learn, and open to guidance. That openness created space for a natural mentorship to form. I think that’s key: be present, ask questions, and stay genuinely interested in learning. The right people will often show up when you’re ready to receive what they have to offer. Be of service, be authentic, and treat every interaction as an opportunity to build something meaningful.
Also — don’t be afraid to reach out to someone you admire. A thoughtful message or genuine compliment can go a long way. People are often more willing to share their knowledge than we think.
When it comes to networking, some of the best connections I’ve made have come from simply showing up consistently — at community markets, run clubs, or through collaborations with like-minded local businesses.
Join us sometime at Extra Credit, our run club! You can find us on Instagram @extracredit.mm – it’s a great place to meet new people in a positive and healthy setting.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.southwestelixirs.com
- Instagram: @southwestelixirs
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/southwestelixirs
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/southwest-elixirs-san-antonio
