After more than a century of crafting some of Texas’s most beloved confections, Lammes Candies is closing its retail stores, ending a 141-year run as one of Austin’s oldest continuously operated family businesses.

The family-owned company, founded in 1885, announced the decision in a notice posted at its Round Rock store, citing “changing market conditions and the long-term sustainability of our operations,” as well as unprecedented economic pressures that have squeezed traditional brick-and-mortar confectioners.

The Round Rock location permanently closed on April 24, 2026.

The flagship store and manufacturing facility at 5330 Airport Boulevard in Austin will remain open for a limited time, giving customers a final chance to purchase its signature treats.

However, no exact closing date has been set.

“This was not an easy decision,” said co-owner and Vice President Lana K. Schmidt, a fifth-generation family member.

“Lammes Candies has been more than a business; it has been a family legacy spanning generations. We are deeply grateful to our employees, customers, and community for their unwavering support over the past 141 years.”

The family has emphasized that the closure was driven by rising costs for premium ingredients such as chocolate and pecans, as well as by shifting consumer spending away from non-essential goods.

Schmidt noted the company’s refusal to compromise on quality: “We could choose to make a lower-quality product, but we want our legacy to be quality.”

She also cited a desire to spend more time with grandchildren as part of the personal decision to wind down operations.

Lammes Candies traces its roots to 1878, when William Wirt Lamme opened the Red Front Candy Factory on Congress Avenue.

It was re-established under the Lammes name in 1885.

The business became famous for its Texas Chewie Pecan Pralines, a chewy caramel-pecan classic introduced in 1892, made with local pecans, and Longhorns, pecan-studded caramels dipped in milk chocolate.

Other favorites include Choco’Adillos and a variety of handmade chocolates and fudges.

In recent days, loyal customers have flocked to the Airport Boulevard location, creating a final rush reminiscent of the store’s heyday.

While all physical retail locations are closing, the company will continue fulfilling online and mail-order purchases through its website for as long as inventory lasts.

Seasonal items such as chocolate-covered strawberries may be available in-store until closer to Mother’s Day.

The family has expressed hope that its legacy of quality and tradition will live on in the memories and family traditions it helped create across Central Texas.

The closure of Lammes Candies underscores broader challenges facing long-standing independent retailers amid inflation, supply-chain pressures, and evolving consumer habits.

For generations of Texans, however, the brand remains a sweet symbol of Austin’s history, a legacy the Lamme family leaves behind with gratitude and pride.