SHREWSBURY – The owner of a coffee shop in a neighboring community has become the first business to publicly declare an interest in leasing space at the proposed Beal Commons development on Maple Avenue.
Peter Femino, owner of Aero Coffee Roasters, sent a letter to the Select Board earlier this month, voicing his support for Beal Commons and stating his desire to open a second location in the retail portion of the mixed-use project. The letter was referenced by Board Chair Moe DePalo at the Select Board’s March 28 meeting.
Femino wrote that he and his team had also been looking at a location in Marlborough, but they preferred Beal Commons.
“My manager, who lives in Shrewsbury, told me about a development project that might be of interest as a second location,” wrote Femino. “I found the site to be the perfect fit due to these three factors: the housing aspect offers a built-in customer base; the prominent location provides brand exposure and accessibility; and finally, the potential for new customers looking for a café while visiting the other retail locations on site.”
Femino opened Aero Roasters, which is his third startup, at 318 Main St., Northborough, in June 2020, just months after the pandemic outbreak. The company has been successful, doing both retail and wholesale business. According to Femino, that success prompted exploration into expansion opportunities.
“I hope that our involvement in this project assists in finalizing the permitting for the town and its residents,” he wrote.
The proposed Beal Commons development would be located at 1-7 Maple Avenue on the site of the former Beal School/Early Education Center. Developers Civico/Greenly are proposing 55 units and 7,000 square feet of retail space.
The project is before the Planning Board.
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