New coffee shop opens beside Dunkin' in Bucksport

Two drive-thru coffee chains now occupy adjacent lots on U.S. Route 1 in Bucksport.

Aroma Joe’s began serving customers at 5 a.m. on Monday, placing it directly next to the existing Dunkin’ location. Owner Mark Breton arrived at the site at 4:15 a.m. to find a line already wrapping around the building. He noted that his first customer had been waiting since 3 a.m. in her pajamas to claim a gift he advertised on Facebook. Breton described the competition as a matter of personal preference, comparing the setup to having two gas stations side by side.

The new shop targets a younger demographic with its menu of neon-colored Rush energy drinks, lattes, and food items. Breton believes the two businesses will share the local customer base rather than compete for exclusive loyalty. He observed that while one car waited in his line, three others pulled into the parking lot next door. He said he expects the two lots to help manage traffic flow, and his staff used a strategy of walking menus to waiting cars to keep lines moving efficiently.

Local customers have not yet formed strong loyalties to either brand. Julie Ridley of Old Town parked at Aroma Joe’s but bought her coffee from Dunkin’ because it had a restroom available that morning. She said future choices would depend on her mood. Joey Doyon, who stopped at Aroma Joe’s with his wife Isabelle on the way to deliver a cabinet from their antique store in Winterport, said he would choose based on which line was shorter. He simply stated that he likes coffee.

The opening is part of a wider commercial push in the area. A Tractor Supply Co. is also planned for a lot just to the east, where Breton and his wife Gwendolyn initially looked before learning it was under contract. Some residents have expressed concern that the added stores could worsen westbound traffic on Route 1, which already experiences backups during the tourist season. A nearby road project contributed to slowdowns on Monday morning, but Breton said he has not seen major issues so far.

Breton has promoted the new location aggressively on social media, generating tens of thousands of views online. The marketing effort earned recognition from Aroma Joe’s corporate office, which sent a mobile van to the site that afternoon. He also plans to add DoorDash delivery in the future and hopes to lead a community effort to repaint a fading mural in downtown Bucksport. The store at 80 Route 1 is open from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day.

Breton views the local opening as part of a national trend he calls drive-thru coffee wars. He believes that when similar brands compete directly, marketing becomes the deciding factor. In Bucksport, however, he sees a different dynamic where the two chains serve distinct but overlapping markets. The immediate area is busy, with both locations reporting brisk business late Monday morning.