Something’s brewing at city cafe
WOONSOCKET— If you want to get a coffee in the Main Street area and maybe a donut, too, you only have to look to the corner of Court and Front streets now that Aroma CT Cafe has opened.
Charlie Khalil, who also operates the Pia Dia Deli and convenience store on the opposite side of Front Street, has completed his renovation of the former Donut X-Press shop and opened the new business last week.
“It’s been busy and it is a good location,” Khalil said of the initial response to Aroma Cafe and its offerings of fresh hot coffee, tea, espresso drinks, donuts and pastries, and sandwiches.
With the CT brand already popular with customers at Pia Dia Deli and the CT Plus gas station on Smithfield Road in North Smithfield, Khalil is hoping to bring some of that business to the Main Street area once they find out what Aroma has on the menu.
Aroma has brought back Frankie Gill to cook the donuts and has Paul Boutros aboard as pastry and food chef.
On Wednesday, the pastry display case held kiwi and blueberry tarts, as well as yogurt parfait and chocolate mousse balls.
The donut rack held a wide variety of morning snacks including the ever popular Reese’s and Cookie Dough donuts and more traditional, glazed, chocolate covered, maple and rainbow sprinkles donuts, and fresh bagels and muffins.
Jenny Saliba and Kristina Banks, working the afternoon shift, said the business’ Sweet Spot ice cream window has also be drawing customers and the drive-thru is already seeing cars pulling up for coffee-togo.
The business has commercial espresso machines to make shots of espresso, Americano coffee and lattes for those who like the stronger types of coffee drinks.
The regular coffee is from New England Coffee and Aroma also offers fresh brewed flavors from that line.
The sandwich menu includes a Lebanese favorite-shawarma chicken or beef sandwiches on pita bread.
The business has been completely redesigned inside with stonework behind the new counter and a color scheme in keeping with Khalil’s CT fuchsia theme.
The exterior of the building was also renovated with a new stucco look and the roof updated.
With the 17 Front Street location already operating, Khalil said he and his business partners are looking to add the Aroma cafe features at CT Gas on Smithfield Road in about a month and then look to opening another Aroma Cafe in the old Getty Station at the corner of Mendon and Cumberland Hill roads in East Woonsocket.
Given the time involved in reviving a vacant business property, Khalil said he would like to see the Cumberland Hill Road site up and running in about four to five months.
Aroma CT Cafe at 17 Front St. is open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week under its start up. A grand opening is planned in the near future.