The new Aroma Joe’s opening on Madison Avenue is shown Dec. 7 in Skowhegan. Anna Chadwick/Morning Sentinel
SKOWHEGAN — Construction turning a former bank in Skowhegan into an Aroma Joe’s coffee shop is almost finished.
The new location at 214 Madison Ave. is set to open around Monday, Jan. 15, according to Aaron Wiswell, who owns the franchised store along with Bob Brennan.
The Skowhegan Aroma Joe’s — which will feature a drive-thru — will serve coffee, energy drinks and food seven days a week from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., Wiswell said.
It will employ about 20 people, Wiswell said, and interest in working at the store has been strong.
“I took the hiring banner down because we were getting so overwhelmed with applications,” Wiswell said. “I heard the banter of ‘hey, they’re not opening’ online, but we were just getting inundated with the amount of applications we were getting.”
The Portland-based Aroma Joe’s has more than 70 locations in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Florida, according to its website. The company was founded in 2000 and began franchising in 2012.
Lila Solecki, a student at Gorham High School, receives her drink order at Aroma Joe’s on Oct. 20.
The company is brewing up even more franchise expansion, as 11 locations opened in Maine in 2023, and 10 are planned to open in 2024, according to Caroline McAleese Riley, the company’s chief marketing officer.
Wiswell owns several other Aroma Joe’s stores, including one that recently opened in Newport.
“It’s an amazing brand,” he said. “I’ve been around it since they started. I was very intrigued with it … and I was lucky enough to get involved 10 years ago.”
Junior’s Construction, based in Cornville, is doing the renovation of the former KeyBank. Turning a bank into a coffee shop and drive thru was not easy, Wiswell said.
“We completely renovated the whole thing,” Wiswell said. “Basically, brought it down to studs and are bringing it back.”
Once the location opens in January and staff are fully trained, Wiswell expects a grand opening complete with discounts and giveaways in February.
Aroma Joe’s will be the latest coffee joint to join the scene in Skowhegan.
Joe’s Flat Iron Café on Water Street opened in July. The town also has two Dunkin Donuts, one on Water Street and one on Madison Avenue.
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