Aroma's Closing Time: What You Need To Know

Aroma is a coffee shop franchise with locations in the US, Canada, Israel, and Ukraine. Aroma Joe's, an American coffee shop franchise, offers coffee and energy drinks at its locations and through its mobile ordering app. Aroma Cafe, a coffee shop in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, closed in March 2024. Aroma Chinese Buffet Restaurant in Basildon, Essex, UK, is open daily for lunch and dinner, with last admittance at 9:15 pm.

Aroma Cafe in Waterloo, Ontario closed permanently on March 12th

Aroma Cafe in Waterloo, Ontario, permanently closed its doors on March 12th. The cafe's owners, Jeff and Monica, made the announcement on Instagram, expressing their sadness at having to shut down their "sweet little coffee roaster". The decision came as a result of several challenges, including the pandemic, the sale of the building housing their business, and the difficulty of finding a new location in the city with skyrocketing rental costs.

Aroma Cafe was a beloved fixture in the Waterloo community, known for its friendly staff, delicious coffee, and cosy atmosphere. It was a popular spot for locals to enjoy a cup of coffee, a light breakfast, or a tasty treat. The cafe also offered unique menu options, including Korean dishes and vegan choices. The closure of Aroma Cafe is a loss not just for its loyal customers but also for the vibrant local coffee culture in Waterloo.

In the days leading up to their closure, Aroma Cafe continued to serve their customers, providing their famous coffee beans for pick-up and their whole wheat sourdough loaves from Thursday to Saturday. They also expressed gratitude to their staff, past and present, acknowledging that their success would not have been possible without their dedication.

The news of Aroma Cafe's closure sparked a discussion on the challenges faced by small businesses in the region. Many commenters attributed the closure to the rapid corporate gentrification of Waterloo, with wealthy developers buying up properties and pricing out local businesses. This has resulted in the loss of several well-loved establishments in the area.

Aroma Cafe's permanent closure on March 12th is a reminder of the fragile nature of small businesses and the impact that external factors, such as the pandemic and rising rental costs, can have on their survival. The cafe will be missed by both the owners and the community, who cherished the delightful coffee and memories made within its walls.

Aroma Chinese Buffet Restaurant in Basildon, Essex is open 7 days a week

The restaurant is open from 12 noon to 3 pm for lunch from Monday to Friday. On weekends, bank holidays, and Mondays to Fridays, the restaurant is open from 12 noon to 10 pm. The last admittance is at 9.15 pm, and the buffet closes at 10 pm. Time restrictions may apply.

Aroma offers a fixed price for its buffet, which includes starters, main courses, tepanyaki, and desserts. The price is £12.50 per person during weekdays and £22.00 per person on Saturdays, Sundays, and bank holidays. Children under 140 cm in height are charged half price, and there is a small charge of £3.00 for infants under 90 cm in height.

The restaurant is located at Festival Leisure Park, Festival Way in Basildon, Essex. It is just 15 minutes from M25 Junction 29 and offers free parking. Reservations are taken for parties of 8 or more people.

Aroma Espresso Bar cafes have been serving coffee and pastries internationally for almost 30 years

In 1999, a dispute between the two brothers led to the formation of separate chains: Aroma Tel Aviv, run by Sahar, and Aroma Israel, run by Yariv. Despite being separate companies, the two chains maintained similar branding, giving the impression that they were a common entity. Aroma Tel Aviv and Aroma Israel were merged again in 2021 under the name Aroma Espresso Bar and are now operated by Yariv Shefa.

In 2000, Aroma began expanding beyond Jerusalem, first within Israel and then internationally. In 2006, the first overseas branch opened in SoHo, New York City, and in 2007, the first Canadian location opened in downtown Toronto. As of 2024, Aroma has 162 locations in Israel and several locations in the US, Canada, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine. There are 37-46 Canadian locations in Ontario, mostly in and around the Greater Toronto Area, and 5 US locations in New York City, New Jersey, Maryland, and Florida (2). Aroma has since closed its locations in New York City and Maryland.

In addition to coffee, Aroma serves freshly-baked pastries and wholesome, Mediterranean-inspired food made with simple ingredients. The chain is known for its dedication to service, and a survey by an Israeli market research company found that Israeli consumers are more inclined to choose a cafe based on accessibility and availability rather than cost and taste. This may explain Aroma's success, as it was also voted as having the best service by a wide margin in the same survey.

Aroma Joe's is a local franchise in the US with locations in Maine and Florida

Aroma Joe's is a local franchise in the US, sourcing its coffee from the world's best coffee beans. The company began in Maine, with its headquarters located in the state, and has since expanded to Florida. Aroma Joe's offers coffee lovers unique, handcrafted coffee and espresso drinks, flavour infusions, signature AJ's Rush Energy Drinks, and all-day food options.

The franchise has a wide range of locations in Maine, including Sanford, Biddeford, Portland, South Portland, Auburn, and Scarborough, among others. In Florida, Aroma Joe's has a presence in Pompano Beach, Land O' Lakes, and Wilton Manors. The company also has locations in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island, with plans to expand further in the US.

Aroma Joe's provides an extensive menu of coffee options, both in-person and online, with a focus on sustainably sourced coffee and energy-infused drinks. The company invites customers to visit any of its nearby coffee drive-thru locations or download the AJ's Rewards mobile app to earn rewards on coffee and energy drinks and receive exclusive promotions.

With a commitment to its local communities, Aroma Joe's encourages customers to treat themselves to a refreshing drink and enjoy the unique coffee experience the franchise has to offer.

Aroma Cafe in Jerusalem, Israel opened in 1994 and now has over 200 locations worldwide

Aroma Cafe, now known as Aroma Espresso Bar, is an Israeli coffeehouse chain that first opened in 1994 on Hillel Street in downtown Jerusalem. Founded by brothers Yariv and Sahar Shefa, Aroma began to expand beyond Jerusalem in 2000, following a dispute between the brothers which led to the formation of separate chains. Despite now being separate companies, both chains maintained similar branding, creating the misconception that they were a common entity.

Aroma Israel, run by Yariv, has locations in the United States, Canada, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine. In 2006, the first overseas branch opened in SoHo, New York City. There are now 46 locations in Canada and 3 in the United States. Aroma Tel Aviv, run by Sahar, has 162 locations across Israel.

Aroma is known for its coffee, sandwiches, pastries, and Israeli breakfasts. It has been described as having an "unwelcoming atmosphere to tourists" and "terrible service", but also as having "prompt and good service". It has also been likened to Starbucks and Panera Bread.

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