CAMPUS: CAB hosts El Mercadito event

By Chris Aguilar
Bridge Staff Writer
Published Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025

Setting up their booths to showcase unique products, local entrepreneurs and vendors sold items to students during the El Mercadito event. Hosted by the Texas A&M International University Campus Activities Board, the event featured a wide variety of goods, ranging from jewelry, custom-made clothing, scented candles, collectible toys and more.

Held from 2 to 5 p.m. Oct. 15, the vendors peddled their wares inside the Student Center rotunda. The market drew in curious students who discovered the event while passing through the building on their way for lunch or a study break. Many, like TAMIU student Hailey Gonzalez, were pleasantly surprised to find a pop-up filled with local creative artists and community spirit.

“I was actually coming to get food earlier,” Gonzalez said. “I didn’t know about it [beforehand].”

She explained that what caught her attention most was the jewelry she tried on and the custom cups, which she found especially convenient since she enjoys drinking coffee. The jewelry booth belonged to CoCo Design Studios, a family business since 2004.

Jorge Huerta recalls working at the business alongside his mother, who founded it when he was about 10. The business places an emphasis on customer consideration and satisfaction.

“I always try to find and make the best designs for everyone,” Huerta said. “We’re always trying to be better; we offer [guarantees] that whatever you’re getting is going to be a piece that is going to last you and of good quality.”

Another vendor at the market was Mar Boutique, a local business with an emphasis on Mexican artisan products.

“Some of our items are handmade by us,” Mar Boutique co-operator Alexa Plascencia said. “Most of them, we bring from different parts of Mexico. We make the candles, the cups, the T-shirts, tortilleros and then we bring other stuff from different parts of Mexico like clothing, earrings and accessories as well.”

Plascenscia runs the business alongside her sisters. Before attending, she said they were uncertain about their expectations for buyer turnouts, so they decided to showcase and bring along multiple products that varied in price point, offering everyone an opportunity to take something home.

Margarita Talbott, founder of Talbott Designs, said her business sprouted while the world was on lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It all started during the pandemic,” Talbott said. “We all were looking for something to do, I found the beadable items, and I just decided to start making them and selling them to friends.”

She now focuses on creating beaded products and pens, while her sister contributes by designing 3D-printed items.