After 141 Years, Lammes Candies Closes as Texas Institution Succumbs to Economic Pressures

Key facts

• Lammes Candies, founded in 1878, is closing after 141 years of continuous operation.
• Six of seven locations are shutting; the flagship at 5330 Airport Boulevard in Austin remains open until inventory is exhausted.
• The Round Rock location closed on April 24, 2026.
• Owners cited 'unprecedented economic pressures and current market conditions' as the reason.
• The business was originally lost in a poker game in 1885; son David Turner Lamme repaid the $800 debt to reclaim it.
• Siblings Pam, Bryan, and Lana Lamme, the fifth generation, have owned the company since 2004.
• The Texas Chewie Pecan Praline, introduced in 1892, remains the bestseller.
• Online sales continue while supplies last.

A Sweet Legacy Comes to an End

Lammes Candies, Austin’s oldest continuously run family business, is closing after 141 years. The Round Rock location shut its doors on April 24, 2026, and the flagship store at 5330 Airport Boulevard—the same address since 1956—will follow once its inventory is sold. Online sales will continue in the interim. The company attributed the closure to 'unprecedented economic pressures and current market conditions,' according to a statement on its website. The owners posted a sign at the Round Rock store that read: 'We have made the difficult decision to close our business.' The sign added, 'It was not made lightly.'

A Poker Game That Reshaped Austin Business History

The story of Lammes Candies begins with a poker game and a gambling debt. William Wirt Lamme arrived in Austin from St. Louis in 1878 and established the Red Front Candy Factory at 721 Congress Avenue. The business grew, but in the spring of 1885, Lamme lost it at a poker table. His son, David Turner Lamme, came down from Ohio specifically to repair the damage. He paid the gambling debt—$800 at the time, equivalent to nearly $27,000 in 2026 dollars—reclaimed the business from whoever had won it, and officially reopened on July 10, 1885. He renamed it Lammes Candies and moved it to 919 Congress Avenue. The business has been family-owned and family-operated ever since.

From Ice Cream to Texas Chewie Pecan Praline

Originally called the Red Front Candy Factory, the confectionery initially sold ice cream and a frozen fruit dessert before expanding into chocolates in 1965. The company’s famous 'Texas Chewie Pecan Praline' was introduced in 1892—though some sources say 1897—and the tradition of using only Texas-grown pecans persists to this day. Lammes Candies has been owned and operated by siblings Pam, Bryan, and Lana Lamme since 2004, making them the fifth generation of the family to do so. Lana Schmidt, vice president and fifth-generation family member, told a local news outlet: 'I think we’ve built a legacy for the community. I know people are gonna miss this sweet treat, this tradition of theirs. And so we will miss the community.'

Community Mourns as Reddit Thread Goes Viral

The closure has sparked an outpouring of grief among loyal customers. A Reddit Austin thread titled 'Lammes Candies is closing after 141 years. I can’t believe it' went live earlier this week, giving fans a platform to air both their devotion and disappointment. 'RIP to the Austin we used to know,' said the original poster. 'Noooo! Their candies were always my default birthday gift for people,' lamented one user. 'So happy they were here for as long as they were, so sad to see it all go,' added a second.

Orderly Wind-Down and Employee Support

The company is in the process of an 'orderly wind-down of operations, including fulfilling remaining orders and supporting employees through the transition process,' according to a press release. The ownership team emphasized in a statement: 'This was not an easy decision. 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.' No specific closing date has been announced for the flagship store. The company said it would continue to operate its online store and the Airport Boulevard location until inventory runs out.

The End of an Era for Austin

The closure of Lammes Candies marks the end of a 141-year chapter in Austin’s business history—a story that began with a poker debt and grew into a beloved Texas institution. The company’s decision to shutter six of its seven locations reflects the broader economic pressures facing small, family-owned businesses in an era of rising costs and shifting consumer habits. For the Lamme family, the loss is deeply personal. As Lana Schmidt put it, the business built a legacy for the community. Now, that legacy is coming to a close, leaving behind only memories—and perhaps a few remaining Texas Chewie Pecan Pralines.

The bottom line

• Lammes Candies, founded in 1878, is closing after 141 years, with only the flagship store in Austin remaining open until inventory runs out.
• The business was originally lost in a poker game in 1885, but the founder's son repaid the $800 debt to reclaim it.
• Six of seven locations are closing, citing 'unprecedented economic pressures and current market conditions.'
• The company is conducting an orderly wind-down, including fulfilling remaining orders and supporting employees.
• The Texas Chewie Pecan Praline, introduced in 1892, remains the bestseller and a symbol of the brand's heritage.
• The closure has sparked an emotional response from the community, with many lamenting the loss of a cherished local tradition.