ATX Ahead Austin Business Journal / Feedback Media

Austin has a new most-influential employer, and he’s forcing huge changes to a part of the Austin area that has steered clear of the boom until now. Dive into that, plus ABJ’s most-read stories in the month of April. Despite Tesla dropping the biggest layoffs bombshell in local history, a little BBQ joint suddenly shutting down amassed more attention.

There's a simple answer in this download: Don't confuse The Austin Business Journal with the Chamber of Commerce. Business leaders and executives expect the facts, and  as ABJ Editor Colin Pope explains, when the local economy is challenging, it's up to the ABJ staff to tell the truth.

It's a cliche because it's true: The only thing constant is change. And while many of Austin's iconic businesses have escaped extinction, or been reincarnated elsewhere, many others face an uncertain fate. In this download, ABJ Editor Colin Pope leads a conversation with reporters Sahar Chmais and Mike Christen who've been closely covering the future and fate of numerous Austin icons.

The new year is still fresh, and the outlook in Austin depends on whom you ask. In our opening download of the year, ABJ Editor Colin Pope compiles the latest surveys of business owners and compares the stats with the word on the street to offer predictions on the year ahead.

ABJ Senior Staff Writer Justin Sayers joins Editor Colin Pope to debrief after an action-packed edition of the annual Williamson County Growth Summit. It's clear that the building boom in manufacturing facilities won't slow anytime soon. In fact, it may accelerate, and that could cause infrastructure issues. Case in point: Consumer packaged goods company Afia is currently still on a septic tank because sewage lines haven't been installed.

We once took for granted that cherished Austin icons like Peter Pan Mini-Golf would be there for our children, and our children's children, for generations to come. But the future of Peter Pan Mini-Golf and places like it are now in question with a premium on real estate. In this episode, ABJ Editor Colin Pope connects with Reporter Sahar Chmais to learn more about Austin's iconic places that may be facing extinction.