Fareed and Jennifer Al-Abboud make every batch of gelato from scratch at their shop on Tacoma Avenue South, steps from Wright Park.
Medzo Gelato Bar, between the Stadium and Theatre districts, offers 12 rotating flavors of Italian-style gelato and sorbet. The Al-Abbouds use local organic dairy and skip processed bases, artificial colors and artificial flavors, according to the shop's website. Each pan is made individually.
The shop says it follows procedures to avoid cross-contamination with dairy and nuts.
The name Medzo is short for "Mediterranean Zone," according to a review in The Trail, the University of Puget Sound student newspaper. Wendy Huang, the paper's editor-in-chief, wrote in an October review that Fareed Al-Abboud makes his own dark chocolate for the chocolate gelato and produces the salted caramel in-house.
Huang's review highlighted rice, pistachio and chocolate as standouts among the 12 options. The shop also offers a seasonal pumpkin flavor for fall, she reported.
Jennifer Al-Abboud, co-owner and a 1986 University of Puget Sound alumna, told The Trail the shop has become a gathering spot. "People come into our shop happy and leave happier. If they don't come in happy, they leave happy," she told The Trail.
Flavors rotate and have included pistachio, rose, hazelnut, stracciatella and orange blossom, The News Tribune reported in a 2026 guide to the Tacoma-area ice cream scene.
The shop's exact address differs between published sources. The Trail lists 621-B Tacoma Ave. S., while The News Tribune lists 612-B Tacoma Ave. S. Customers can confirm the location through the shop's website or by calling 253-600-9491.
Medzo is open Wednesday through Sunday.
