Since 2001, "Light Bulb Ed" has smiled out at drivers on Burnet Road.

The design of a man with a light bulb on top of his head perched on top of The Light Bulb Shop was made to look like Edwin McGary, who got into the light bulb business in the early 1980s with his wife, Traci McGary.

Kelly McGary, the daughter of Edwin and Traci, was five years old when her parents got into the light bulb business, and in recent years, she managed the day-to-day operations of the store. Kelly wrote in an email to customers Friday that the decision to close was not made easily.

"We have loved every single one of you and are going to miss y'all like no other," she wrote.

Kelly said she considered moving the business from Burnet Road to outside the Austin city limits, but wrote "it didn't make financial sense."

The store will officially close its doors on April 15th, and will be taking orders until March 27th.