Something is baking at the Oakridge mall. Woops!, a bakery dreamed up in New York City, specializing in macarons and other international pastries, has come to town. Firmly anchored as the largest retailer of French macarons in the United States, Woops! is bringing its cultural flair and European indulgence to the South Bay.
Located at Westfield Oakridge mall, the kiosk opened in September, and is owned and operated by Alesia Rao. This is Rao’s second location, and she is eyeing the rest of the Bay Area for further growth.
“I knew from the beginning that I wanted to open multiple locations and seeing the community’s reaction has turned that dream into a reality,” says Alesia Rao. “After seeing the success of the Valley Fair kiosk, opening the Oakridge location was a logical next step. The community has come to know and love all of our products for every occasion.”
The Woops! journey began in 2012 on a whim when four friends opened a macaron pop-up shop at the Holiday Shops in New York City’s Bryant Park. In nine short weeks they sold 100,000 macarons and developed a cult-like following due to the macarons and aesthetic. The group then realized that “Woops!”, they had a thriving business. Building on the momentum and popularity of Bryant Park, the four friends soon opened boutique mall kiosks in major malls throughout the Northeast.
The close-knit group of friends who founded Woops! are from all over the world: Israel, France, India, and the U.S. Their cultural diversity is integrated not only in the ambiance but in the menu. Today, Woops! serves handmade classic French macarons in over 20 flavors, as well as 30 other international desserts, which are produced in the company’s bakery in New York City, or imported from Europe.
“I want to bring an enhanced dessert experience to the Bay Area. My hope is that through our macarons and delicious treats, people are reminded of a nostalgic time—a reminder to slow down, appreciate where you are presently and enjoy that moment,” adds Rao. “Our Macarons are not French; they are also not “American” per se. They are American in the sense that they reflect the melting pot that makes us who we are. Between the classic French Caramel Fleur de Sel and the American Cookies and Cream, we provide opportunities for every single customer to experience that present moment.”
To help celebrate every moment, whether it’s a wedding, baby shower, business meeting or client gift, Woops! works creatively to produce a dessert that personalizes and enhances each event’s theme and estyling. For any event or celebration, Woops! offers eye-catching macaron pyramids, beautifully designed gift boxes, elegant party favors and customized macarons with company logos, taglines and more.
“With Woops! we are able to be a part of every celebration, big or small,” says Rao. “We look forward to the opportunity to celebrate with our customers everything from weddings, birthdays, Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, and every holiday in between. We even offer desserts for business meetings to bring celebrating to every aspect of life. We want the community to know that we are here for them through all of life’s moments.”
