The newest Aroma Joe’s in Maine opened Tuesday at 44 Mayville Road in Bethel. The store is owned by franchise partners Mark Paulin, of Dayton and formerly of Mexico, and Mike Pelletier, of Bethel.

“We love this area and truly believe in Bethel’s future,” Pelletier said. “Opening an Aroma Joe’s here gives us the opportunity to be part of the town’s growth while serving something people genuinely enjoy.”

Pelletier and Paulin have hired 18 full- and part-time employees. The store is open 362 days a year, with daily hours from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., serving specialty coffee, energy drinks, breakfast sandwiches, soft pretzels, cinnamon rolls and doughnuts.

All orders are taken in person at the takeout window. Employee Silvi Saito, of Bethel, said everyone is trained to perform all roles.

Pelletier said his other business, Clean Cut Painting, gave back $100,000 — or about 2% of revenue — to school and recreational programs last year. He said Aroma Joe’s plans to give back the same or more. The owners plan to feature a student of the month or teacher of the month at the drive-through window.

“We want to stay connected to the community,” Pelletier said.

Store Manager Beckie Parker, of Greenwood, said the $600 collected in tips during a family-and-friends soft opening Sunday was due to Pelletier’s reputation.

“People didn’t have to give a tip, but that’s how much they respect and admire him,” Parker said. The tips were split among workers.

In April 2025, Bethel Planning Board initially denied Pelletier and Paulin’s request to build the Aroma Joe’s citing traffic and vehicular access concerns. The board approved the project on a second application.

The Scarborough-based Aroma Joe’s has 132 locations along the East Coast.

Pelletier and Paulin, who said they first discussed the idea at camp together, hope to eventually own nine Aroma Joe’s locations — one for each of their combined children. They have already purchased land in Gorham, New Hamphsire, for their second store.