UPDATE: Mall Coffee Shop Receives Permission for Early Opening

Update: Friday 11:20am

Store manager/owner Raj Bhatt announced that Aroma was granted permission to open early on Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Dec. 26 and sell coffee and food items to mall patrons.

Original Story

Following the initial suspension, an unsuccessful court challenge and eventual reinstatement of Paramus' beloved Blue Laws, borough officials were wary of relaxing the limits for a single business for three days. Aroma Espresso Bar, which is located in the Garden State Plaza, had petitioned the council to open an hour earlier on Black Friday (Nov. 23), Small Business Saturday (Nov. 24), and Dec. 26.

The Israeli-based espresso and coffee chain has only one location in New Jersey and normal business hours begin at 8am, an hour before the majority of mall storefronts open. On the three requested days, Garden State Plaza opens at 7am, and Manager/Owner Raj Bhatt requested that the coffee shop be allowed to open at 6am to accomodate mall patrons seeking coffee or food items.

"On these days, there are a significant number of shoopers, mall patrons, and mall employees, whoo arrive at the mall prior to 6am as retailers have merchandies promotiosn attracting thousands of individuals and their families who are unable to obtain any food or drhink while waitinf for the traidtional retailers to open their doors," Bhatt wrote in his request to the council. "Permitting us to open early on these days would be very beneficial to all."

He added that since the mall opens at 7am and the Rt. 4 Starbucks is open at 5:30am, that Aroma should be given the same flexibility for the three days.

But with the Blue Laws back in place, Mayor Richard LaBarbiera and the entire council expressed caution about allowing the coffee shop to open early for the three days.

"In light of last week, this is something that I would not relax," LaBarbiera said. "Hurricane Sandy brought a lot of wind while Hurricane Kathleen had a lot of hot air. The Blue Laws are sacred to Paramus."

While the borough had allowed stores to sell necessities like building materials and generators and insurance companies to perform inspections to open on Sunday, Gov. Chris Christie had suspended the Blue Laws following a request by County Executive Kathleen Donovan.

On Black Friday, all borough businesses, including the malls, will open their doors at 7am. Garden State, Paramus Park and the Bergen Town Center will remain open until 11pm.