New Coffee Chain Site Approved By Southington Officials

SOUTHINGTON, CT — Locals looking for a quick caffeine fix now have a place approved to do just that courtesy of local zoning officials saying "yes" to a new take-out coffee shop to open in town.

The Southington Planning and Zoning Commission voted 6-1 on June 6, to approve a site plan to build a new Aroma Joe's coffee chain at the former site of a Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard shop.

With PZC alternate Katrina Caird (sitting in for an absent member) as the lone dissenter, the town approved Java Junction LLC out of Bristol to open an Aroma Joe's at 279 Queen St., Southington.

The property is owned by Southington-based 279 Queet Street LLC, with plans calling for a 1,001-square-foot building to replace the existing structure there.

Jim Cassidy, an engineer with Cromwell-based Hallisey, Pearson & Cassidy, represented the applicants before the PZC last Thursday.

He outlined plans for the site, which included knocking down the old Rita's building and building a new operation from the ground up.

"It is proposed that the existing building would be removed," Cassidy said. "We are proposing to construct a brand-new building."

He said the location would have 10 parking spaces, but since the building itself will be takeout only, much of the parking is expected to be for staff members.

Cassidy said the old Rita's site had 21 parking spaces.

According to Cassidy, the Aroma Joe's would only have a drive-through window and a walk-up window outside to serve their food/coffee.

The public, he said, will not be able to enter the building.

"The parking will be more utilized by employees and anybody who wants to come and pick up something from the service window," Cassidy said.

There were some safety concerns and the approval was conditional on plan modifications, including a new speed bump; a new entry/exit to expand access into the site; and a no-left-hand-turn sign at one of the exit points.

Aroma Joe's is a Portland, Maine,-based coffee chain that specializes in various types of hot and cold coffee drinks, as well as refreshing cold drinks.

It also serves various types of breakfast sandwiches and doughnuts/muffins/pastries, though its coffee is what it is best known for.

Last March, Rita's announced it was closing the Queen Street site, citing an inability to reach a lease agreement with the property owners.

Southington PZC Chairman Robert Hammarsley said he will miss Rita's, but added he was happy to see a new business already slated to go in that spot.

"The business that is currently there now has been a good one. I enjoyed it. I'm kind of sad to see it go. I'm happy that there are other businesses coming in," Hammarsley said before the vote.

" I think that the way the site is designed here is thoughtful and I think that it's going to make that section of Queen Street a little bit cleaner and the positioning of the building here works better for this site and its intended purpose."

For the submitted plans for the new Aroma Joe's coffee shop, click on this link.

From June 4: 'Major Coffee Chain Plans New Shop In Southington'