Key Takeaways
???? How Stubbs became a national brand
???? Bill Murray, the Cedar Tavern, and an NYC–Austin connection
????️ Why authenticity matters more than marketing
???? Revived Austin’s Pizza with a focus on family and value
???? What makes Austin worth fighting for
Meet the Guest – Eddy Patterson
Eddy Patterson is the CEO and Owner of Austin’s Pizza, which he acquired in 2023 to continue its tradition of delivering handcrafted pizzas in Austin since 1999. He oversees all aspects of the business while expanding its presence through a complementary frozen line sold in H-E-B stores since 2015. Eddy is also the Founder and CEO of Flatlander Foods, launched in 2015 to bring restaurant-quality pizzas to retail through exclusive licensing with brands like Austin’s Pizza, Kerbey Lane, and Chuck E. Cheese®.
He leads Flatlander Foods’ supply chain, sales, marketing, and full P&L operations. Eddy is a Co-Founder and Operator of EBERLY, an acclaimed Austin restaurant known for exceptional service and national recognition since its 2016 opening. Earlier, he was a founding partner of STUBB’s Bar-B-Q, growing it into the top premium barbecue sauce brand in the U.S. and playing a key role in its $100 million sale to McCormick.
He also co-founded the renowned STUBB’s Bar-B-Q Restaurant & Live Music Venue, hosting legendary artists and establishing it as one of Austin’s top destinations. Eddy holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Baylor University and serves on the Texas Restaurant Association Board of Directors.
Connect with Eddy and Austin’s Pizza
Show Notes
Eddy Patterson has helped shape the culture of Austin through food, music, and spaces that bring people together. In this episode, Adam Flagg sits down with the Stubbs co-founder and Eberly owner to explore how Eddy helped transform a beloved local recipe into a nationally recognized barbecue brand and turned a struggling downtown lot into one of Austin’s most iconic music venues.
Long before Stubbs BBQ Sauce was on H-E-B shelves across Texas, it was the creation of CB Stubblefield – an authentic Texas pitmaster who made his legendary sauce by hand, serving it up alongside blues and soul at his original Lubbock joint. Eddy and his partners saw the magic in Stubb’s original recipe and worked to bottle that legacy while preserving its soul and story.
What started as selling tomatoes door to door in Lubbock eventually led Eddy to build brands and venues that define Austin’s spirit. Guided by curiosity, lasting relationships, and a drive to create something meaningful, he’s brought the 150-year-old Cedar Tavern bar from NYC to life at Eberly, revived Austin’s Pizza with a focus on family and value and stayed true to the idea that roots matter more than rapid growth. Beyond food, his work is about crafting experiences that foster belonging and reflect the authentic spirit of Austin.