How does an Austin institution survive for nearly 50 years while the city around it changes dramatically?
In this episode of Titans of Texas with Casey Claiborne, Casey sits down with Mason Ayer, CEO of Kerbey Lane Cafe, to discuss the history of one of Austin’s most iconic restaurant brands, the challenges of leading a family business, and what it takes to stay relevant in a rapidly changing city.
Ayer shares the remarkable story of how his parents launched the original Kerbey Lane Cafe in 1980, how he initially pursued a legal career before returning to the family business, and the lessons he learned transforming the company during a period of significant growth.
The conversation covers:
• The origins of Kerbey Lane Cafe and Austin in the early 1980s
• Growing up inside a family-owned restaurant business
• Leaving corporate law to join Kerbey Lane
• Standardizing operations across multiple locations
• Leadership, company culture, and employee development
• How Austin’s growth has changed the restaurant industry
• Adapting menus while preserving iconic traditions
• Navigating the COVID-19 pandemic
• Supporting local businesses and community organizations
• Why family-owned businesses matter to Austin’s identity
• Entrepreneurship, risk-taking, and leadership lessons
Ayer also reflects on the realities of restaurant ownership, the importance of creating a welcoming culture for both employees and customers, and why community engagement remains central to Kerbey Lane’s mission.
Throughout the discussion, he emphasizes that long-term success requires constant adaptation while remaining true to the values that made the business successful in the first place.
The episode closes with advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, lessons from law school, and thoughts on the future of Kerbey Lane Cafe and Austin’s local business community.
00:00 — Intro + Meet Mason Ayer
01:32 — How Kerbey Lane Cafe got started
04:00 — Growing up in the family business
07:33 — Law school and a legal career
14:56 — Leaving law to join Kerbey Lane
16:16 — Taking over and modernizing operations
19:27 — Growth, training, and leadership
21:23 — How Kerbey Lane evolved with Austin
23:30 — COVID-19 and surviving the pandemic
25:47 — Why 24-hour dining disappeared
27:20 — The culture and values behind Kerbey Lane
28:43 — Keeping Austin businesses alive
31:05 — Championing local entrepreneurship
33:01 — The future of Kerbey Lane Cafe
35:07 — Advice for young entrepreneurs
37:07 — Law school versus business school
38:00 — Closing thoughts