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For anyone in recovery wondering how to stay sober while still connecting with people, a new kind of community space just opened in New York and was built specifically with you in mind.
New York State is not surprisingly a leader in the drive for sobriety. The headquarters of Alcoholics Anonymous is centered in New York City, and The Empire State features AA chapters throughout every community. Now, even the famed night life in the Big Apple has embraced sobriety.
Justin Gurland, 43, has been sober for 18 years. He got clean at 25 after struggling with alcohol and drug addiction since age 13, later earned a master’s degree in social work, and spent years helping others through recovery. Now he’s channeling that experience into something different: The Maze, billed as New York’s first alcohol-free members club, which opened in Gotham’s Flatiron District in late 2024.
“The alcohol-free lifestyle is still in its infancy, but it’s not a fad,” Gurland explained. “It’s a movement.”
A Sober Space Built Around Community
One hard part of early sobriety and long-term recovery is figuring out where you fit socially. For people in AA or working the 12 steps, the peer support of Alcoholics Anonymous meetings is foundational. But what about a Friday night out? A place to meet people that isn’t a bar?
That question drove Gurland to create The Maze. The 4,600-square-foot space includes a full-service restaurant, specialty coffee bar, lounges and a speakeasy-style room for private events. And it’s all 100% alcohol-free. Members are asked to remain clean and sober inside the club’s walls, though Gurland frames it as an honor system rather than a gatekeeping exercise.
“It’s your journey,” he observed. The point is to build and enjoy a social life without feeling the need to resort to drinking.
About 45% of The Maze’s roughly 200 members are sober. Another 45% are alcohol-free for health or personal reasons, and 10% are still figuring it out. The varied stats are a reminder that recovery isn’t always black and white.
Staying Sober When Social Life Feels Impossible
Gurland’s story reflects a struggle many people in recovery know well: the social vacuum that opens up when alcohol is no longer part of your life. AA meetings and support groups fill part of that need by offering community, accountability, and hope. But there’s also a need for ordinary social connection that doesn’t center on a drink.
That’s the gap The Maze is designed to fill. And Gurland believes it’s replicable. He has his eye on Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and even college towns, or has puts it, places with “equally great sober communities” to match their party scenes.
Gen Z is already setting the trend. Studies consistently show younger adults are drinking less than previous generations. Gurland sees The Maze as part of a broader cultural change where not drinking is no longer something people keep secret.
“For a long time it was anonymous,” he said. “People are more comfortable outing themselves now.”
Long-Term Sobriety is About More Than Not Drinking
Whether you’re newly sober or celebrating years of sobriety, the core challenge of recovery often isn’t just avoiding alcohol. It’s building a life that feels full without it. That means community, purpose and belonging.
The Maze represents one answer to that challenge. AA meetings and peer support groups represent another. Many people in recovery find that layering multiple forms of community like a home group, sober friendships, and alcohol-free social spaces gives their sobriety the strongest foundation.
Practical habits matter, too. Tracking your sobriety milestones is a simple but powerful way to stay connected to your progress. The Sober App lets you log your sober date, track days, and celebrate milestones. The app offers a daily reminder of how far you’ve come.
AA Meetings and Recovery Resources
You don’t need a private members club to find your people. AA meetings remain one of the most accessible, free, and proven forms of peer support for alcohol addiction available in virtually every city and town in the country and online.
If you’re looking for community in your area, AA meeting finders can connect you to local groups today. Virtual AA meetings are also widely available for those who prefer online support.
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Nikki Wisher is an Atlanta-based content writer with over a decade of experience. She specializes in creating content related to health and wellness, with topics ranging from addiction recovery to fitness to skin care. She also enjoys creating content in many other areas like photography, beauty, and marketing. Her passion project is her inclusive running blog, forallrunners.com.
View ProfilePeter W.Y. Lee is a writer and historian of American history. His primary focus is on the Cold War era. His academic work examines the relationship between youth and popular culture and its impact on U.S. society during the twentieth century.
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