Can't Decide on a Business?
Take something old & make it new
🍦 Built for the Neighborhood, Not the Algorithm
Alright Team,
This week’s episode takes us to the heart of East Austin, where TJ Brogan & Mack Brown, co-owners of Zeds, are serving up more than just New Zealand-style ice cream.
They didn’t start with a “big idea.”
They started with a community & a real need.
TJ & Mack looked around and noticed that what their neighborhood lacked wasn’t innovation — it was connection. A local spot where families, kids, and friends could gather, unwind, and get a little sweetness in their day.
These two new owners took something old and made it new again by doubling down on neighborly love.
Zeds isn’t just about great cones and fresh fruit. It’s about community-first business ownership.
And that’s exactly the kind of story we love to tell.
🍻 Join Us Next Week: Owners After Hours @ Zeds
We’re bringing the conversation full circle — LIVE at Zeds in Austin.
Join us for Owners After Hours, an informal gathering for current and aspiring business owners.
Good people, good ice cream, cold drinks, and a chance to hear from TJ, Mack and JC about what it really takes to run a small business.
🗓 Wednesday, June 11 (6-8p CST)
📍 Zeds Ice Cream – East Austin
💡 Want to Start a Business? Start with What People Actually Want
Too many people are chasing ideas that sound good on paper, but don’t hold up in the real world.
Mack & TJ built Zeds because their neighborhood needed it. That’s it. No fancy pitch deck. No trend report. Just observation and action.
If you want to start a business that sticks — start with your block, not your brainstorm.
Look around. What do people wish they had access to in your area? What do they complain about? What would make their lives easier, tastier, smoother?
That’s your unfair advantage.
Start there.
Build smarter. Lead harder. Operate On.
Truly,
JC & The American Operator Team