Tacoma’s Point Ruston waterfront just got a little sweeter. Aba Macarons has moved from pop-ups to a permanent stall inside the Waterfront Market, bringing cereal-inspired and floral macarons to the promenade. Owner Mercedes Sanchez, who has been selling her macarons at pop-ups and farmers markets since 2022, kicked off a soft opening with 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. hours starting Friday, July 3, with the first 50 guests set to score a free macaron. She plans to be on site through the Fourth of July weekend as waterfront foot traffic ramps up.
As reported by The News Tribune, the stall sits inside the Waterfront Market at Point Ruston and is scheduled to operate Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to start. The paper notes that Sanchez hurried to open in time for the holiday crowds and is calling this stretch a soft opening while she finishes decorating the space. The News Tribune also offers practical directions on how to track down Aba Macarons in the market’s back corner.
From pop-ups to a stall
According to Aba Macarons' website, Sanchez launched the business in 2022 and built a following through farmers markets, pop-ups and custom orders. The bakery’s online shop lists macaron towers, party favors and bulk packs that she uses for special events and wholesale requests. She runs most of the operation solo, and notes that on busy market days, quantities are limited and availability can shift.
Flavors to try
Staple flavors on rotation include vanilla bean, toasted coconut, lemon, espresso and guava. Sanchez told The News Tribune that her top sellers are a honey-lavender macaron and a Fruity Pebbles version that mixes cereal into the buttercream. For summer, she is rolling out seasonal combinations such as strawberry-rhubarb, lemon-lavender, chocolate-passionfruit and a yuzu-lemon macaron with passionfruit. Past pop-ups have also featured limited-edition creations ranging from a golden peanut-butter crunch to Dubai-style chocolate pistachio pairings.
Where and when to go
The Pacific Northwest Market at Ruston, hosted by Everwild Events, runs every other Saturday through Sept. 12 and brings extra weekend crowds to the Grand Plaza. The Waterfront Market’s own site provides general vendor hours and visitor info for Point Ruston, and individual stall schedules can shift with the seasons, so it is worth checking the market homepage before heading out. If you miss a weekend visit, Aba Macarons’ website and social channels share online ordering options and day-of flavor lineups.
For now, the stall offers a low-commitment way to try Tacoma-made macarons without a full storefront in play, and the soft opening timing gives summer visitors one more excuse to wander Ruston Way. Follow Aba Macarons or their Instagram for the latest hours and flavor drops before you go.
