Don’t expect small-batch beans from Seattle, but do expect the fireplace, plush couches and the Rolls Royce espresso machine to still be there when the Gorham Street cafe reopens this Saturday (or Mon.).
“We will be making awesome espresso, cappuccinos, great coffee, fresh muffins, coffee rolls and a nice line of cupcakes,” said new owner Sean Barry, who plans to retain the name of the beloved cafe that closed abruptly last summer.
Yes it’s been a long, slow roll waiting for something to perk up this trafficked corner and this guy Barry, whose been around the restaurant scene since you were in jr. high school, has the enthusiasm, the plan and drive to make it happen — if such things can be assessed from a 10 min. conversation. Determined to get your biz, Barry is competing w/ the orange and pink Big Boys around the corner.
“We don’t want to be Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts, we are cutting their prices by 25 cents a cup. And making cold cut sandwiches sliced to order,” he said.
Since you asked, “subs” are $5.50 to $6.75 and Barry promises they will be “huge.” Hours are Mon. - Sat. 7a to 6p. closed Sun. Free WiFi will return, but rules will be stricter. No surfing squatters nursing a cup all day. These guys have to get tough to turn a profit.
Whether keeping the Aiello name will be good for business or not is the issue of the day. What do you think? Closing in the middle of the night leaving regulars high and very dry was not the smartest move. Not sure I'd want to hold on to it. Plus, what does it mean?
Cafe Aiello returns
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Wish some more places in Downtown would stay open later on a Friday night. It's impossible to make it there when working in Boston.
By using the name he will probably be hounded by Aiellos creditors (of which there are many). Not a smart thing to do - I also wonder about the legality....if the former owner registered it then he still owns it for 2 years.
Why does everything close so early in Lowell? 6pm...i barely make it home from work at that time. And closed on sundays? I hope these are just temporary hours.
If he's hoping to pull in dinner people he should stay open tip at least 8. 6:00 is just not going to cut it. Maybe even just Thurs-Sat. I hope he reads your blog GG
I hear you all about the hours and totally agree, but we've had coffee shops try it, and only Dunks keeps those hours. Considering Aiello is right next to them, I can understand it doesn't make business sense, as unfortunate as it is.
Coming home last night around 9 from 7NANA in N. Billerica, I was itching for coffee. Ended up having to nuke leftovers from that morning. Yuck! But, I will say, although I've somehow never been to a Hibachi before, I thought the food and theatrics were good (as was the sushi!), and the staff very friendly.
Corey does make a good point that businesses in DTL have tried staying open later, but business is so slow that it's not worth it for them. I think someone needs to try it again, and advertise to let us know that they're open! DTLowlellians are used to having everything closed up at night, it might take awhile for word to get out.
The hours posted at DELICIAS BAKERY (11 Kearney Sq)
say they are open till 11pm. I haven't been there much
past 8pm myself, though.
Brazilian pastries, bread, and coffee.
The pastry prices are pretty reasonable.
I think what's really being missed here is Sundays. What cafe isn't open on a Sunday?? It is the prime day for a cafe. A day were people have the time for possibly two cups of coffee while they read the paper.
Just for the record.... Aiello was not open this morning! Made me so sad, I was ready to sample the new coffee on my way to work this morning!
On The Road Coffee House is open on Sundays 8-3.
Just sayin' ^_^