Today we’d like to introduce you to Mackenzie (Mack) Young & Amber Gonzalez
Hi Mack and Amber , please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Lone Man is a contradiction. The name was inspired by a hometown street, but the spirit is quintessentially Texan. Grit, Friendliness, Strength, Boldness. Hell, we are two women who own a business called Lone Man. What more contradiction do you need?
Our story begins with a chance meeting at Texas A&M University in 2014. As two Texas natives – Amber from the coastal city of Corpus Christi and later San Antonio, and myself from the ranch lands of Wimberley – our paths crossed at just the right moment. While Amber was cutting her teeth at a local roastery, I was returning from a transformative semester in Lyon, France, where I discovered the profound comfort of café culture.
For me, coffee shops have always been sanctuaries – spaces where I could be completely myself, whether studying, dreaming, or connecting with friends. Meanwhile, Amber’s passion lay in the craft itself, diving deep into the art of production and roasting, eventually making coffee the focus of her dissertation. Our shared love for coffee would prove to be the foundation of something bigger than we could have imagined.
Life took us in different directions after graduation. I pursued an MSc in International Management at Trinity College Dublin, where my fascination with coffee led me to focus my thesis on coffee marketing. Amber ventured into video production in Dallas. But as often happens with true friendships and authentic dreams, our paths were destined to converge again.
After five years in Dublin, I returned to Austin at the end of 2021. When Amber visited while working for Backroads, a national cycling trip company, our reunion sparked something extraordinary. We shared our deep seated dream, the desire to open a coffee shop. At the time, I was working as a barista at La Colombe Coffee Roasters, helping launch their first Austin location, and had somewhat impulsively purchased our future coffee trailer. It didn’t take much convincing for Amber to make the leap to Austin, and together we began pursuing our shared dream.
Lone Man Coffee officially came to life in February 2023, but our real breakthrough came through another serendipitous encounter – when Amber met Samantha Garbo, owner of the popular Garbo’s restaurant. With just a small table, our Linea Mini, and coffee from our friends at Superthing, we held our first pop-up at Garbo’s. The support from friends and family that day remains one of our most treasured memories.
What followed was a whirlwind of opportunities: from regular Sunday service at Garbo’s to being discovered on Instagram by the Sabah team, private events, public markets and a semi-permanent pop up outside Imogene + Willie. While maintaining our full-time jobs – Amber at Rapha and myself as a Wholesale Rep at La Colombe – we worked seven days a week, pouring our hearts into every cup we served around Austin. We met incredible people, from local chefs to retailers to celebrities, but what we yearned for most was a community to call our own.
As we refined our vision, we found temporary home outside Mesa Rim Climbing Gym. Then came another pivotal, yet serendipitous moment – a call from a friend at Allday, who connected us with Flo’s, and everything clicked into place. We took the leap, left our jobs, and opened Lone Man Coffee full-time on August 10th.
Our story is one of friendship, serendipity, and the courage to pursue a shared dream. Each cup we serve carries with it the warmth of our Texas roots, with recipes inspired by our family or seasonal Texas produce. Add a dash of European café culture, and our commitment to creating a space where, like in those coffee shops that first inspired us, everyone can feel completely themselves, and you have Lone Man.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Like many small business owners, we’ve faced our share of challenges in bringing Lone Man Coffee to life. Three significant obstacles stand out in our journey:
First, breaking into Austin’s vibrant but intensely competitive coffee scene was daunting. Our city is home to numerous established coffee shops and roasters, each with their loyal following. We knew we needed to differentiate ourselves, but without compromising our vision of quality and community. We tackled this by starting small and authentic – focusing on building genuine connections at our pop-ups, whether at Garbo’s or on South Congress. Rather than trying to compete on volume or flash, we invested our energy in creating memorable experiences and consistent quality with every cup. This personal approach helped us build a loyal customer base who appreciated not just our coffee, but our story and commitment to craft.
Finding the right permanent location proved to be another significant challenge. While our pop-up model allowed us flexibility, we dreamed of creating a permanent community space. We explored numerous locations, each with its own complications – from permitting issues to foot traffic concerns. The process taught us patience and the importance of waiting for the right opportunity rather than settling for a convenient one. When the connection with Flo’s finally happened, we knew it was worth the wait – proving that sometimes the best solutions come through old relationships.
Perhaps our most personal challenge was maintaining our stamina while working seven days a week during our first year. While holding down full-time jobs during the week, we dedicated our weekends to Lone Man Coffee. This meant no real days off, constant context-switching, and the physical demands of being on our feet for long hours. The schedule was exhausting, but it taught us invaluable lessons about our capacity, our partnership, and our dedication to our dream. We learned to lean on each other’s strengths, develop efficient systems, and maintain our enthusiasm even during the most demanding days.
These challenges, while difficult, have shaped Lone Man Coffee into what it is today. They’ve taught us to lean on our Texan resilience, reinforced the importance of staying true to our vision, and helped us appreciate the community that has supported us along the way.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Coffee trailer located in Tarrytown, Austin.
How do you think about luck?
Something my dad always said was that “luck is when preparation meets opportunity”. The pivotal moments in our growth have often come through unexpected connections, but we were always ready to ‘pull ourselves up by our bootstraps’ to make it work.
When we were ready to start but unsure how to begin, a chance meeting between Amber and Samantha Garbo opened our first door. That initial opportunity to serve coffee at Garbo’s restaurant gave us the platform we needed to start building our dream. We weren’t fully prepared, but sometimes luck favors the bold – we made it work with a small table, our Linea Mini, and sheer determination.
Another stroke of fortune came through social media when Austin from Sabah discovered our small Instagram account – we had only a few hundred followers at the time. This connection led us to Imogene + Willie during SXSW, a breakthrough moment that positioned us on South Congress and introduced us to countless new opportunities and relationships.
Perhaps the most significant bit of luck was the relationship I formed with Allday a couple years ago through my work at La Colombe. We got a call from Dan, one of the owners, who connected us with Flo’s. His call came at exactly the right moment, leading to our current home and allowing us to finally transition into running Lone Man Coffee full-time.
While we believe in making our own luck through hard work, a bit of grit and a whole lot of preparation, we’re immensely grateful for these serendipitous moments. I think an even bigger component could in fact be connection, something that is very dear to Amber and I in life and business. It’s because the connections we have made, that these opportunities have also come. Just an aside, when thinking more personally – I consider myself to be incredibly lucky to have built a business with my best friend and someone who complements me so well. We are lucky to have the support of our family, who have always challenged and believed in us, and to have such an amazing and welcoming community around us.
Our entire story begins and ends with luck – from our chance meeting at Texas A&M University, to the friends and partners we’ve made along the way. We owe so much to those who offered us a hand up, and we hope to extend that to those around us. Who knows, maybe we can lend a helping hand to someone else as they start their dream business?
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lonemancoffee.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lonemancoffee
