Newton's L'Aroma Bakery & Cafe To Close After 12 Years

NEWTON, MA — One of Newton's mom-and-pop coffee shops will close permanently at the end of the month.

"We’ve really connected really closely with the Newton residents, and it has been a wonderful journey," said Haleema Salie, who owns L’Aroma Bakery & Cafe with her husband Yusuff. "It’s kind of sad, but we are also looking forward to doing something else."

They opened the breakfast and lunch spot, known for its baked goods, teas and Sri Lankan inspired menu in 2008.

The cafe attracted a broad crowd, downstairs in the dining room a sign requests people not use electronics. Upstairs, people would pack into a lounge and sit on comfortable chairs or at a long wooden table and sit and work on their computers while sipping on tea or coffee.

Many a local city council member would hold office hours at the cafe, and you could find members of nonprofit groups or advocates talking shop on any given day.

The couple decided to retire last year after running the business for a dozen years, Salie said. So last summer they put the building tucked on Spenser Street where L’Aroma Bakery & Cafe sits on the market for $1.2 million.

They didn't find any takers for a few months, and continued to work.

"And then COVID hit," she said.

And that didn't help business, she said.

"Like everybody else, it’s been difficult," she said. Still they persisted, until another Newton resident made an offer on the building.

Salie said they are planning to close up at the end of the month, though they may stay open the last few days of the month or early 2021 just for coffee and tea.

She put up a sign on the door to let people know and has been overwhelmed by the response.

"One of my customers emailed me today, saying what a cultural connection, she used the word ambassador that we were," said Salie.

The family is originally from Sri Lanka, she said, and people who would never otherwise had the opportunity to taste Sri Lankan food, have. That touched her, Salie said, adding her favorite part about the business was the people who came in day in and day out and supported them all these years.

"It is very sad," she said. "Customers are coming every day and almost crying; 'what will I do for food?' ... "It would have been nice if someone [in the family] could have continued this, but it’s not meant to be, so we all have to look forward to better times without COVID," she said.

She and her husband are planning to move from West Newton to Framingham where their grandson lives. Salie, who taught at the Wellesley Montessori School before opening the cafe said she doesn't anticipate opening another business, maybe, she mused, she could go to work part-time teaching some time down the line, but for now she's ready to spend more quality time with her family.

The cafe is open Tues-Sun 8 a.m.-4 p.m. until the end of the month.

Jenna Fisher is a news reporter for Patch. Got a tip? She can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna). Have a something you'd like posted on the Patch? Here's how.