Help me revive my coffee shop. Help the underdog win!

The Progress We've Made So Far

Thanks to your generous donations and a lot of restaurant "clean up" on my end, we’ve made significant strides in turning things around. I’ve streamlined our operations to be more financially efficient, and in just the last five months, I’ve cut our vendor debt in half. This is a major milestone, but there’s still more work to be done.

Initially, I planned to create an entirely new business, but I realized that would be far more costly than anticipated. Instead, my focus is now on stopping the financial bleeding and transforming our restaurant into a true community hub for ALL people.

While I still intend to address the issues with our franchise down the line, my primary goal right now is to pay off this debt by June. To make that happen, I’m ramping up marketing efforts and working tirelessly to bring more customers through our doors. I still need your support to make this a reality. If you have the means and feel inclined, please consider making a donation today.

And if you’re ever in Miami, I’d love for you to visit the restaurant and see firsthand the magic I’ve been creating to make it an inviting, vibrant space—the go-to spot for coffee, food, pastries, and fresh-pressed juices.

How It All Started

In May 2021, I opened the doors of Aroma Espresso Bar in Miami, Florida, with the vision of creating more than just a coffee shop—it was meant to be a community space. A place where neighbors could gather, work, socialize, and enjoy delicious food, pastries, smoothies, and fresh-pressed juices. With Instagram-worthy murals, lively music, and even a Little Library, Aroma quickly became a beloved local hangout for meet-ups, events, and art nights.

The Challenges We've Faced

Pandemic Setbacks: We originally signed the lease in November 2018 and planned to open in April 2020, but the pandemic delayed us until May 2021. During that time, we had to use our startup capital to cover rent, setting us back over $100K.

Investor Loss: Shortly after opening, we lost a key investor, leaving us with an additional $50K financial hole.

Franchise Struggles: Being part of the Aroma Espresso Bar franchise has been a double-edged sword. In April 2023, the two U.S.-based representatives for Aroma left, leaving us without guidance or support. We are the last remaining U.S. location and had to start sourcing our own ingredients, essentially running the business independently while still being financially tied to the franchise.

Boycotts, Price Increases & Revenue Loss: Aroma Espresso Bar is headquartered in Israel. Our business took a 30% revenue hit from community members choosing to boycott. Menu items were increased by 25% in the summer by a consultant we hired which also hurt us tremendously. When you compare our Profit & Loss Statements from 2022 and 2023 with 2024 the difference is stark.

Moving Forward

With my new strategy in place, I am now focused on:

Maintaining lean payroll and inventory costs while still delivering high-quality food and drinks.

Lowering costs on most items on the menu by about 10% based off of feedback from customers.

Increasing marketing and community engagement to bring back our old customers and attract new ones.

Establishing a loyalties program using Como Sense as the vendor partner.

Establishing an automated system using Restaurant 365 to help track inventory, waste, scheduling, consumption, etc.

Paying off our debt by June so that we can finally be in a position to move forward successfully.

Transforming the restaurant into a true community hub where everyone feels welcome.

The next phase of the journey will be deciding how to break away from the Aroma franchise. This will require additional funding, but I believe that by stabilizing our finances first, we’ll be in a much better position to take that step.

How You Can Help

I am reaching out to you, my community, for support. I am closer than ever to turning this business around, but I still need your help to push through these final months.

Here’s how you can contribute:

✅ Donate: Any amount, big or small, will help us pay down this debt and keep the business running.

✅ Spread the word: Share this GoFundMe with your network.

✅ Visit the restaurant: If you’re in Miami, come by! Let me show you firsthand what we’re building.

✅ Offer resources: If you know an SBA representative or franchise lawyer (preferably in NY or FL), please connect me.

A Personal Note

As a minority female business owner, this experience has been a rollercoaster. I made mistakes, but I refuse to let them define me. I am learning, adapting, and working harder than ever to keep this dream alive.

2024 has been challenging for all of us, but I believe in the power of God, community, resilience, and vision. Your support means everything. Whether it’s a donation, a kind word, or a visit to the café, you are helping me write the next chapter of this journey.

If you have any questions or want to see the financials, I am an open book. Just reach out.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your support.

I look forward to seeing you at the restaurant soon!