WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - For many businesses, it might seem like the sky is falling with the pandemic.
That's literally what happened at Aromas Cafe in Colonial Williamsburg's Merchants Square when the ceiling collapsed.
Co-Owner Michelle Sieling says it happened a couple weeks ago, just days after their roaster caught fire.
Fortunately, Sieling says no employees were hurt in either incident, but Aromas had to close its doors temporarily.
"We are rebuilding and we are hoping that we will be open in the next few weeks and it will be bigger, better, stronger than ever," Sieling told News 3.
In the meantime, employees quickly got to work at Aromas' City Center location in Newport News, which wasn't supposed to reopen until the surrounding offices started filling up with people again.
General Manager Dominique Lindsay says employees cleared the dust and moved product as fast as possible. Aromas Cafe & Bakeshop in Newport News reopened on Friday.
Lindsay says regulars in Williamsburg have already made the trip.
"(It) doesn't matter what the location is, some of them are coming down here. Just like when this location was closed, we saw our Newport News regulars going up to Williamsburg so there's been definitely a huge family following," she told News 3.
In June, News 3 visited Aromas in Williamsburg for a Takeout Tuesday segment. At the time, Lindsay said it was the regulars keeping the business afloat when COVID-19 sent William & Mary students and tourists from Colonial Williamsburg packing.
Now, it's Sieling's other Williamsburg businesses, The Corner Barkery and The Hounds Tale helping sell Aromas products.
Aromas in Newport News is open daily from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., serving coffee drinks, breakfast, lunch and desserts. It's located across the street from the City Center fountain.
