Tacoma, WA

Most everyone around Tacoma knows that we are home to the now world-famous Almond Roca candies, made by Brown and Haley. While they are easily purchased in thousands of retail stores nowadays, there is still something nostalgic about visiting their tiny circular-shaped outlet store, located next to the still-functioning Almond Roca factory in downtown Tacoma. The prices are super, including their large “oops bags” – which are mostly crumbled bits of crunchy toffee and nuts and chocolate from would-be almond roca candies. I bought several huge bags for just a few dollars, then had a neighborhood ice-cream Sunday party that night, with unlimited almond roca crumbled toppings. They also have lots of roca-based goodies that I’d never seen in stores before, as well as a fantastic crushed ice coffee machine that rivals a Frapuccino any day of the week.

The outlet store is located just next to the factory on East 26^th Street, easily viewable from the road, with free parking immediately behind. It’s rarely crowded, and very casual, like visiting a tiny seaside candy shop that only sells one kind of thing – but that one thing is so darn good that you want to go back again and again.

The factory next door used to give free tours for anyone wanting to see how the candies are actually made, but unfortunately those have been discontinued. The store clerk cited the cost of insurance for being open to the public. It’s still fun to stop by the factory for a look, though, even if you can’t get the full tour anymore. And of course, there’s the irresistible roca crumbles in the little pink outlet building.

From I-5 north or south: Take Tacoma City/Tacoma Dome Exit. Exit towards Tacoma Dome. Off ramp ends at 26th Street. Turn left on 26th Street. Brown & Haley is on the left.

There is also a larger Brown and Haley warehouse outlet in Fife, located at 2105 Frank Albert Road, Tele: 253-926-0240.