New Starbucks coming to Lewiston
Mar. 30—LEWISTON — The nation's largest coffee chain, Starbucks, is renovating the former Tim Hortons coffee shop at 855 Lisbon St. The 2,827-square-foot site includes a drive-thru and will cost an estimated $400,000 for construction, according to the company's application with the city.
The application, dated March 20, states the company is awaiting approval from the Office of State Fire Marshal for its plans.
Starbucks acknowledged The Buzz's request for more information, but did not respond before deadline.
The latest Starbucks to open in the area is inside the Target on Center Street in Auburn, which opened in November 2022. The coffee chain has three locations in Auburn.
TURNER — The insatiable demand for coffee shops in Androscoggin County continues at breakneck speed, as The Buzz can confirm a new Aroma Joe's has broken ground at 60 Auburn Road in Turner.
The Maine-based coffee chain lists five locations in Lewiston and Auburn and has other locations in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Florida.
Barring any construction or permit delays, franchise owners Bob and Wendy Levesque are projecting a late-summer opening. "We are so excited to join the Aroma Joe's family," the couple said. "We have been proud Turner residents for over 20 years and look forward to bringing the Aroma Joe's positivity to our town in late summer 2023."
LEWISTON — Sam Bennett started out selling his salami Italians to millworkers in 1939 near the corner of Minot Avenue and Elm Street in Auburn. They were so popular, he moved his operation soon after to 268 Main St. in Lewiston. But on Thursday, the Lewiston-based chain made the decision to close that location permanently.
"With rising food costs and factors outside our control, we have made the tough decision to close our 268 Main St., Lewiston location," the company explained in a written statement. "We have offered employment at other nearby Sam's locations to every employee owner affected."
The Sam's location at 583 Prospect Ave. in Rumford has also closed, with the company saying it was due to a nonrenewable lease.
The company said its 11 other locations, including five in the Lewiston and Auburn area, remain locally owned and operated and open for business.
