Lammes Candies, a Central Texas candy maker with roots stretching back to the late 1800s, is shutting down its retail stores as rising business costs weigh on the company.

The Austin-based business said the decision was driven by "the unprecedented economic pressures and current market conditions" affecting its operations.

The company had initially indicated that its flagship shop in Austin and its Round Rock store would stay open. Customers in Round Rock later found a notice on the storefront saying that location had closed on April 24.

Holiday pop-ups remain possible

Lammes Candies said its store closures will not fully end its presence in Central Texas. The company told customers to watch for pop-up shops around the area during the holiday season.

"As we navigate these challenging times together, we encourage our Central Texas community to support your local businesses now more than ever," the company said in a statement on its website.

The closure marks a difficult turn for a business long tied to Austin’s food history. Lammes Candies has described its mission as serving high-quality and affordable chocolate and candy to customers in Austin and across Central Texas.

A family business with deep Austin roots

The company traces its history to 1878, when William Wirt Lamme arrived in Austin from St. Louis and opened the Red Front Candy Factory at 721 Congress Ave.

The business later passed through a dramatic chapter when the original store was lost in a poker game. In 1885, David Turner Lamme, the founder’s son, bought it back for $800.

Lammes Candies went on to become Austin’s oldest continuously operated family business, building a name around handmade sweets and a long-running connection with local customers.

Its closing adds another century-old name to the growing list of small businesses squeezed by higher operating costs and shifting consumer conditions.