Lammes Candies, a family-owned Austin candy business that dates back to the 19th century, is closing after 141 years in operation.
The decision became clear to customers when a notice appeared at the company’s Round Rock shop. That location closed on April 24, while the main store on Airport Boulevard is staying open for a limited time.
The temporary extension is meant to give customers one more chance to buy their favorite Lammes Candies treats before the company ends regular retail operations.
Owners point to market conditions
The company said the closure followed a difficult review of its future. Owners cited "changing market conditions and the long-term sustainability of our operations" as the reasons behind the decision.
The notice at the Round Rock store described the move as painful for a business that had become part of family traditions across Central Texas.
"It was not made lightly," the notice said. "Lammes Candies has always been more than a business, it has been a family legacy, and a part of so many lives and celebrations."
The message ended weeks of uncertainty for customers who had begun asking online whether the business was preparing to shut down.
Final sale came before closure news spread
Lammes Candies made its last social media post on April 23, one day before the Round Rock location closed.
The post promoted a final offer on Longhorns, the company’s version of the candy commonly known as a turtle.
"Last Call on Longhorns! The BOGO sale ends on April 24th, so get this hot deal while it lasts. Offer is applied directly at checkout to our 24oz and 36oz Longhorns," the company wrote.
Customers soon filled the comments with questions about whether the closure rumors were true. Days later, the sign on the storefront confirmed that the company’s long retail run was nearing its end.
A business reclaimed after a poker loss
The Lammes story began in 1878, when William Wirt Lamme started the Red Front Candy Factory in Austin.
In 1885, Lamme lost the business in a poker game. His son, David Turner Lamme Sr., later came to Austin, paid the $800 gambling debt, and reclaimed the store.
Lammes Candies officially opened under the family name on July 10, 1885. The company remained family-owned and operated for more than a century.
With the Round Rock store closed and the Airport Boulevard shop operating only for a short period, one of Austin’s oldest candy names is preparing for its final chapter.
