Austin’s Coffee open mics over the years have not only given stars of the Orlando comedy scene their first experiences onstage, but it was also a formative space for nationally known comedians like Kam Patterson of SNL and Preacher Lawson. With Lawson now involved in the new Austin’s location opening at 2240 W. Fairbanks Ave., we expect this rich legacy to continue. In the meantime, here is a visual walk through the history of open-mic comedy at Austin’s.
“Austin’s was one of the first places I went and felt comfortable,” says comedian Joe Censabella. As for the new location, “Hope it’s as cool as the old spot and we can make it popular for comedy.” Credit: Sarah KinbarErik Myers, a core figure in Central Florida’s comedy scene, died in 2021. But his impact was profound. “On stage, he was fast paced, high energy, relentless and left audiences exhausted from laughing so hard,” says Craig Norberg, founder of Austin’s comedy open mic. “Even though he would tour the country and won Florida’s Funniest Comedian, he would still come to Austin’s to support the venue.” Credit: Craig NorbergLike others on the Orlando scene, comedian Genesis never gave up on open mics, even though he toured the U.S. doing shows. Genesis revered Erik Myers. “He was hilarious. He was the one comedian from Orlando that I was scared to follow. He made it so difficult because he was so precise and concise,” Genesis said in 2021. Genesis passed away in 2023. Credit: Erick FeilingComedian Craig Norberg, founder of the Sunday open mic comedy night at Austin’s Coffee, gathered together the newbies and the old guard on Oct. 19 for one last hurrah at the 929 W. Fairbanks Ave. location. Credit: Craig NorbergThe politics of the list are a topic at every mic. “People hated that they would wait and then get bumped. But you might not realize that’s common. People come here to laugh. And if someone’s here who can make everybody laugh and wake up the crowd, the host is gonna take advantage of that,” says comedian Edwin Pagan. Credit: Sarah KinbarComedian Preacher Lawson has fond memories of Austin’s. “It’s been an important place in my life for a lot of reasons. It was the first place I performed after my breakup. It was the first place I went after being on TV. The first time I felt like I really killed on stage was there. I went up to do three minutes and ended up doing 10,” he says. Credit: Courtesy Preacher LawsonJake Ricca’s first comedy set was performed at Austin’s in 2017. “I thought you weren’t supposed to do the same set twice. That’s the opposite of how you get better. My first set felt great. People said ‘good set’ after. The second time went fine with new material. The third time I bombed hard and wondered if I should quit,” he says.“I didn’t understand you have to keep working bits until they click. The material evolves because you’re building it in front of people. You learn what an audience really is only by doing it again and again.” Credit: Sarah KinbarComedian Christophe Jean has since moved to Austin, Texas, along with a cluster of Orlando comedians looking for a bigger stage. But for years he was a regular at Austin’s, testing new material. Credit: Sarah KinbarComedian Robin Love has been a regular at Austin’s “We all keep coming back for something and at the end of the day, that’s what makes it beautiful,” she says. Credit: Courtesy Robin LoveComedian Ash Cash has ascended as a significant force in Orlando comedy, and like many of her contemporaries, has put in significant time at Austin’s. Credit: Sarah KinbarComedian Kam Patterson, now a Saturday Night Live cast member, devoted many hours to the mic at Austin’s. He joined the Sunday crowd at Austin’s and frequented Copper Rocket, Harry Buffalo’s and other hot spots on other evenings, rarely missing a night to work on his craft. Credit: Sarah KinbarShown here in 2010, Erik Myers as Princess Leia, Tony Recktenwald as Jek Tono Porkins, Craig Norberg as Darth Vader and Mark “Jiggy” Jigarjian as Jabba the Hutt filmed a Star Wars parody song at Austin’s. Credit: Craig NorbergComedian Ryan Holmes is now on Central Florida’s popular, long-running radio show Monsters in the Morning, but he hasn’t forgotten his roots. “I think myself and a lot of people wouldn’t be where we are without the mic at Austin’s. If you could do well there at midnight after 30 comics, you knew you could do well anywhere,” he says. “Plus it was a top tier hang outside, from riffing bits to talking shit to watching a random slap fight. I’m going to miss the old building but Austin’s is in good hands.” Credit: Craig NorbergComedian Kam Patterson with Erick Feiling; Feiling was one of Austin’s guest hosts, and while he enjoyed his time on stage, the late night socializing was equally important. “One of my best memories is hanging out with other comics along the side of the building. Over the years, the moments kind of blur together, but I’ve always enjoyed talking with the comics as much as going on stage,” he says. Credit: Courtesy Erick Feiling
A young Preacher Lawson doing stand-up at Austin’s Credit: rCourtesy Preacher Lawson
For two decades, Sunday night at Austin’s Coffee was where Orlando comics tested material, bombed gloriously and became family. When the coffee shop and creative haven was forced to move, comedian Preacher Lawson stepped in to help keep that Sunday tradition alive.
“I’m really a silent investor. I don’t run the business,” says Lawson, who earned his comedy chops in Orlando and broke out nationally on America’s Got Talent, to Orlando Weekly. “My business was just to make sure that this place doesn’t get shut down, because it’s the longest-running mic in Orlando.”
That’s the short version of a story that has played out since 2021, when the City of Winter Park made it known it wished to buy the land at 929–957 W. Fairbanks Ave. for an intersection and drainage project. The purchase went through in late 2024, and with its lease set to expire October 31, 2025, Austin’s had to act. Fast.
Friends of Austin’s Coffee rose to the occasion and brought in funds. Siblings Angela Whitmer and Richard Whitmer came in as co-owners, and Lawson joined them following an early-August Hail Mary call from the savvy comedy mic mainstay Craig Norberg, who had an inkling Lawson might be game.
“Even when he was famous, he would always come in for open mics when he was in town,” says Norberg. “I knew he wanted it to succeed, so I told him what was going on.”
Norberg founded the mic the same year Austin’s opened, 2003. “I had been doing comedy for about a year or less,” he says. “I wanted more stage time for myself and the community. I really had no idea what I was doing, but I figured it was worth a shot.”
Intrepid comedy fan and supporter Jean Anderson first checked out Orlando comedy in 2005 or 2006. “I started going to Austin’s. That’s where I first saw Pat Garrity. He was pretty impressive. And later on, Preacher was there. He stood out right away,” she recalls.
“When I first came up, they showed me a lot of love,” says Lawson. “The owner knew my drink. It was an Arctic Thunder, basically chocolate milk, and I’d get it every Sunday. They’d see me walk in and just know. It’s been an important place in my life for a lot of reasons. It was the first place I performed after my breakup. It was the first place I went after being on TV. The first time I felt like I really killed on stage was there. I went up to do three minutes and ended up doing 10.”
Dewayne Williams first braved the mic in 2012 and became a regular in 2017. “Austin’s played a big role in my career because it gave me stage time,” he says. “It’s a different energy from anywhere else in the city. The crowd is mostly college kids. A lot of them haven’t lived through the things you’re talking about, so getting them to relate is a challenge. It was a fun challenge because the goal is the same. Make them laugh.”
From the start, Norberg wanted Austin’s to be what it in fact became, a home base for comedians.
“The first night I went, I didn’t even perform. I just hung out,” says Edwin Pagan. “Akeem Woods was guest hosting, and Heather Shaw, Justin Lawson and Ryan Holmes were around. I went back the next Sunday and finally went up. I don’t even remember how it went. At some point you stop caring about bombing; you’re just happy to be up there. Where else are you gonna do comedy on a Sunday?”
“The real magic was outside after midnight, with everyone just hanging out and talking. There wasn’t much drinking, so it was chill. That’s how I met people I’m still close with. Austin’s was social glue for comics in this city.”
Lawson sees it similarly. “Austin’s is a judgment-free zone. You could do whatever you wanted as long as you didn’t hurt anyone, and nobody cared. It’s weird in the best way, like family. You’ve got people you love, people you argue with, people you miss. It’s all family.”
Comedian Robin Love has been a regular at the mic, considering it a mainstay.
“We all keep coming back for something and at the end of the day, that’s what makes it beautiful,” she says.
On Sunday, Oct. 19, the comedy family gathered at the familiar building on Fairbanks for the last time. “It felt different,” Pagan says. “You saw all the comics you started with, all the old faces. It wasn’t a funeral; it was like a reunion. You realize how far everyone’s come, and you still have that respect for each other.”
“I have so many memories. I was crying. It’s just moving, and it’s good, but I’m still sad. I don’t know why,” says Love.
Now the good news: 2240 W. Fairbanks Ave., formerly Loving Vegan Market & Cuisine in Winter Park, is the confirmed new residence of this town’s favorite coffee, comedy and open mic haunt. And likely within weeks, said two insider sources, Austin’s will reopen.
“I’m excited for the new spot,” Williams says. “The longest-running open mic in Orlando gets to continue in a new location. New building, same night, same energy or better.”
