Well, Austin, grab a tissue — and maybe one last bag of Texas Chewie Pecan Pralines while you're at it. Lammes Candies, one of the oldest and most beloved sweet shops in the city, is closing its doors for good after an absolutely jaw-dropping 141 years in business.
Let that sink in for a second. One hundred and forty-one years. That's not just a local business — that's a living piece of Austin history. The place has been around longer than most of the buildings downtown, longer than cars on Congress Avenue, longer than just about anything else you can think of in this city.
For generations of Austinites, Lammes wasn't just a candy store. It was where you stopped before road trips, where grandparents took grandkids, where you grabbed a last-minute gift when you needed something that said "I actually care" without breaking the bank. Those pecan pralines? Iconic doesn't even cover it.
Details on exactly why the doors are shutting haven't been spelled out in full, but honestly, the "why" almost doesn't matter right now. What matters is that another original Austin institution is riding off into the sunset, and the city feels just a little bit different because of it.
If you've never been, there may still be time to swing by and pay your respects — and grab something sugary on the way out. And if you grew up with Lammes as part of your Austin story, this one's gonna sting a little. The kind of sweet, bittersweet feeling that no candy can quite fix.
Here's to 141 years of doing it right, Lammes. Austin won't forget you anytime soon.