by Kate Berry
Special to The Weekly
ORONO — The once vacant building across from the University of Maine’s Rangeley Road entrance is now a coffee shop, offering pastries, free Wi-Fi and, of course, coffee to its customers.
Aroma Joe’s, with locations in New Hampshire and Maine, opened its doors in the college town last month.
Along with free Wi-Fi, there are a number of outlets and USB ports available for patrons — perfect for college students and faculty trying to get a little work done. On one side of the store, there are couches and armchairs, while the other side features a bar with an outside view. Photographs of the university from the 1900s showing historical buildings and some aerial shots are displayed on the walls, which adds to the collegiate atmosphere.
Laura Triandafillou, a University of Maine student, has been awaiting anxiously the opening since rumors first started in early spring.
“It’s really a great location,” Triandafillou said. “I think it’ll be a great addition to Orono because we don’t really have a coffee shop like it.”
Aroma Joe’s is different from many competitors because of its “no intercoms” service, meaning drive-thru orders are taken face-to-face rather than through an intercom.
“There is competition, but we’re not afraid,” said Paul Boucher, Aroma Joe’s owner. “This is a different experience.”
Along with regular hot drinks, Aroma Joe’s serves iced and frozen beverages. The company also has its own energy drink which can be mixed with any of the eight infusions offered: Black Jack, Sweet-N-Tart, Rock-It Pop, Beach Bum, PomeBerry, Blue Hawaiian, Green Monsta’ and Pango Punch. It also serves breakfast meals and baked goods.
At Aroma Joe’s, the customer truly is always right. Boucher said that if a customer does not like his or her drink, the shop’s employees will work as hard as possible to make it right. “There were over 400 [Aroma Joe’s] job applications and we hired 22,” Boucher said. The staff has had 40 hours of training at the Waterville Aroma Joe’s location.
With the excitement of the grand opening comes some concern about traffic in the area. Aroma Joe’s is directly across from a busy entrance to campus. Directly behind the coffee shop is Orchard Trails, a 12-building apartment complex designed for student living. Laura Triandafillou lives at Orchard Trails and expressed concern about traveling to and from campus.
“The biggest problem will be people leaving campus trying to take a left toward Old Town. I have no idea how people are going to get in and out of Aroma Joe’s,” Laura said. “I know that if I’m trying to make it to class, I won’t even try going [to Aroma Joe’s].”
Other new businesses coming to the area also will increase traffic. A gas station-convenience store is being built next to the coffee shop, and a new student housing complex, which will house 850 to 925 students, is set to be built nearby.
There are plans to build a roundabout at the Rangeley Road and Park Street intersection, which is estimated to cost $1.65 million. According to an article about Aroma Joe’s in the Maine Campus, this construction will not begin until 2016.
But Boucher said he’s not very concerned about the traffic.
“At this point, there is nothing we can do about it,” he said. In fact, one reason why this Orono location was chosen is because of the traffic.
“We want to be the community go-to place,” Boucher said. “We want you coming back.”
Located at 99 Park St. in Orono, Aroma Joe’s is open 5:15 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 5:45 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday.