Drive-thru Aroma Joes Coffee to be built on Union Ave. lot that's been vaccant since 2002 fire

LACONIA — Aroma Joes Coffee, with 13 outlets in New Hampshire and Maine, plans to open a drive-thru outlet at 644 Union Avenue, the vacant lot that last housed the Back Water Bar & Grill until it burned in December 2002.

The 0.52-acre lot was acquired by ADSC Real Estate, LLC of 91 Bisson Avenue, which is the address of Bonette, Page & Stone Corporation, for $200,000 in 2011 and was most recently assessed at $120,900.

Aroma Joes Coffee proposes to build a 384-square foot building toward the rear of the lot with an entrances and exits from and to Union Avenue on both sides of the property. A so-called "rain garden," or landscaped area, at the front of the lot between the driveways will capture rainfall to reduce run-off from the site. Three parking spaces on the property would be reserved for employees.

The Laconia outlet would be strictly a drive-thru operation. Aroma Joes Coffee has drive-thru service at all 13 of its locations with adjoining coffee houses only in Somersworth and Sanford, Maine. In New Hampshire the company operates at three locations in Rochester and two in Somersworth as well as in Dover and Barrington. It has six locations in Maine, two in Sanford along with outlets in Portland, Biddeford, Berwick and South Berwick.

Aroma Joes Coffee not only offers coffee and espresso but also flavored iced coffees, energy drinks and baked goods beneath the slogan "it's wicked good" and the promise of personal service with "No Intercoms, No Mistakes, No Attitudes."

Aroma Joes Coffee will present its proposal to the Technical Review Committee (TRC), consisting of representatives of city departments, on May 9 in anticipation of appearing before the Planning Board in June.