CoffeeDrunk acquires Belmont Shore location from Aroma di Roma

2025 is proving to be the year for evolution and self-expansion—and nothing reflects this more than the acquisition of Aroma di Roma’s Belmont Shore location by CoffeeDrunk.

Before the calls for “another one bites the dust” come about, Aroma di Roma’s shift out of Belmont Shore doesn’t reflect a lack of business or success, nor is CoffeeDrunk coming into poach a long-loved space that has served the Shore for over 20 years. In the words of Matthew Church, owner of CoffeeDrunk, “We are not buying Aroma di Roma the business; we’re buying the assets of this specific location: the lease, the parklet, and the space itself, to allow Tim and Aroma a successful exit and for him to pursue growth in the areas he’s more focused on.”

“2025 has been our strongest year yet in terms of sales and patrons,” said Aroma di Roma owner Tim Terrell, who is keeping his DTLB location at 444 W. Ocean. “And it’s been a journey: I first opened Aroma di Roma when I was 23, after climbing the ranks from working at Starbucks. Now is the time for me to focus on challenging and bettering myself—and that means focusing on my coffee consulting business.”

Aroma di Roma’s last day of service in the Shore will be on Sept. 30, with CoffeeDrunk formally moving into the space on Oct. 1. After a quick rebranding, CoffeeDrunk hopes to be ready to welcome patrons to CoffeeDrunk’s new location in Belmont Shore in time for the holidays.

CoffeeDrunk taking over the Aroma di Roma space in the Shore is ‘mutually beneficial’

There is no doubt that, for both CoffeeDrunk and Aroma di Roma, the deal is mutually beneficial and, in many ways, serendipitous. “This deal is really meant to give Tim many resources now to expand Aroma in the direction that he wants to,” Matthew said, a sentiment echoed by Tim himself.

“I’m leaving on good terms; nothing is pushing me out. I’ve had an amazing 23 years. But I want to change,” Tim said. “I want to challenge myself. And that includes be able to walk away when I want to walk away. To walk away and do something new—not answer calls about the A/C. Or plumbing. Orders. Or go to Smart and Final for this or that.”

CoffeeDrunk owners Breezy [left] and Matthew Church [right]. Courtesy of business.

The sentiment Tim expresses is not so easily digestible for most outside the small business world. And to walk away from something that is, by all means, working well successfully, is also not easy. He has a family of staff members who depend on their jobs and the presence of his business in a tight-knit community. 

CoffeeDrunk’s co-owner, Breezy, is the serendipitous cog in this deal.

“But this was also very serendipitous because I couldn’t just walk away without setting a foundation for who was to come in,” Tim said. “And with Breezy, I had that.” For those not aware, Breezy was an early Aroma di Roma employee, helping to open this location in Belmont Shore, and serving as its manager for many years before opening CoffeeDrunk. 

Ultimately, this shift in the Shore’s caffeine scene—one already bolstered by third-wave spaces like Philz and Stereoscope and old-school joints like Sheldrake and Starbucks—is nothing short of a friendly handoff buoyed by shared history. Breezy was, in Tim’s eyes, one of the clutch figures in making Aroma di Roma, well, Aroma di Roma. 

“It just makes the shift all the more easier,” Tim said. “I have what I would say was one of my most talented, always-on-point employees making a name for herself and her family, coming into the very space she helped open. It’s a beautiful, full-circle moment for me both personally and professionally.”

The rich history of Aroma di Roma in Belmont Shore (and something you will be able to continue to experience at their DTLB location).

Founded in 2003 by Long Beach native Tim, Aroma di Roma quickly established itself as a cornerstone of Belmont Shore’s street-facing café scene. The shop’s name—Italian for “the aroma of Rome”—signaled both its influence and intention, offering a menu that blended traditional Italian staples like gelato, espresso, and panini with the hip, modern flair of Long Beach coffee culture.

For nearly a decade, Aroma di Roma’s flagship location on 2nd Street and Pomona Avenue drew a loyal following. But in 2012, Terrell faced a setback when the building’s landlord declined to renew his lease—despite Terrell’s strong financial standing and community support. Local property owners even offered to help him secure a new space, but all efforts came too late. Aroma di Roma temporarily closed and later reopened in another location within Belmont Shore.

Generations of customers remember Aroma di Roma as more than a coffee stop—it was a place where locals made connections, artists found inspiration, and Italian flavors felt right at home in Southern California. Terrell remains one of the most respected figures in Long Beach’s café community, a testament to his artistic vision and entrepreneurial grit—something he’ll be expanding as he steps away from his largest brick-and-mortar.

What is CoffeeDrunk for those that don’t know it? 

CoffeeDrunk might have fallen into the “Birthed in the Pandemic” category. Still, for owners Matthew and Breezy Church, that history has become more of a silver lining than a curse, allowing CoffeeDrunk to focus and refine its menu and culture into what you see today. Now boasting three Long Beach shops—and a fourth in Phoenix—CoffeeDrunk’s success has hinged on sharp branding, a focus on product quality and service, creative community engagement, and finding its fit in niche neighborhoods, allowing CoffeeDrunk to expand with purpose.  Through thick and thin, the shop grew from the combined passions of Breezy, a veteran of Long Beach coffee, and Matthew, her entrepreneurial husband.

Breezy’s path started when she moved from Washington to Long Beach and worked as a barista at the Belmont Shore Peet’s before moving to Aroma di Roma. Matthew first noticed her pink hair and the “Breezy” name tag, clumsily introducing himself. Their lives eventually aligned: they married quickly, started a family, and decided to open their own coffee shop. In June 2019, CoffeeDrunk signed its first lease. Then COVID hit mid-construction and things looked grim. By the time the shop opened in December 2020, they could only serve two customers at a time. Financially disastrous, but creatively invaluable, those early months provided Breezy with space to hone its systems and build culture at a measured pace.

That patience turned into innovation. CoffeeDrunk developed drinks that defined its identity, like their ‘Friends with Benefits’, or the blueberry-meets-espresso ‘BBS latte’, its matcha cousin, and the especially well-known, maple-brown sugar “Instigator.” Equally important, the shop made community and collaborations central to its DNA. Partnerships with local makers not only expanded their menu but also deepened their ties to Long Beach’s community fabric, a value that continues to shape their brand.

CoffeeDrunk’s ambitious expansion over a short period has always been built into its model.

CoffeeDrunk has never been just about coffee. For Matthew and Breezy, coffee shop hopping is their version of bar hopping, and expansion has become part of their culture. With a fourth location in Phoenix, they’re introducing Long Beach’s spirit to new audiences. Matthew draws inspiration from boutique hospitality—spaces distinct in vibe yet unified by branding and customer experience. For CoffeeDrunk, that means each location feels both individually rooted in its community, while also carrying the same recognizable DNA as other CoffeeDrunk locations. 

This philosophy reflects a broader shift in Long Beach hospitality: that a rising tide lifts all ships. As Matthew puts it, CoffeeDrunk’s success depends on its neighbors’ success. By expanding beyond Long Beach while promoting its identity as a city separate from Orange County or Los Angeles, CoffeeDrunk positions itself as both a proud hometown brand and an ambassador for Long Beach culture. The new Phoenix and Belmont Shore shops this year aren’t just growth for the sake of growth—they’re a chance to spread that ethos even further.

There could be no better reflection of this ethos than with their move into the Shore.

CoffeeDrunk will be located at 4708 E. 2nd St. Aroma di Roma’s last day of service will be Sept. 30.