An Aroma Espresso Bar location in Toronto is under fire for trying to ban the public from a space that is, by definition, supposed to be publicly accessible with no requirement to buy a coffee.

The Aroma location fronting a public square at the Yonge-Eglinton Centre has marked its furniture as "for Aroma customer use only," despite the fact that the seating and tables have been placed within a City-designated privately-owned public space, or POPS.

Local councillor Josh Matlow took to X to make sure his constituents were aware that, despite the matter-of-fact language in Aroma's warning, it is "your right" under a by-law to sit at their tables within the square at Yonge and Eglinton.

Councillor Josh Matlow.

"While Aroma decided to put tables out there, the northeast corner of Yonge and Eg is a POPS (privately owned public space) — in other words, while the City may not own it, there's a by-law that ensures it remains publicly accessible in perpetuity," wrote Matlow.

"Along with the large open space we secured at the NW corner and an even larger public space that will eventually be redeveloped at Canada Square, this spot is there for your enjoyment. So go ahead and buy something at Aroma, or don't. It's your choice."

…Along with the large open space we secured at the NW corner, and a ln even larger public space that will eventually be redeveloped at Canada Square, this spot is there for your enjoyment. So go ahead and buy something at Aroma, or don’t. It’s your choice. pic.twitter.com/tFtltYuH18

— Josh Matlow (@JoshMatlow) August 13, 2024

Matlow tells blogTO that "a restaurant literally suggesting that they have exclusive rights to the POPS on the ground (at grade)" is "just wrong," and says he took his message to social media because "I want the public to know that they have a right to be there."

Others have chimed in on social media too, as well as in Google reviews for the business.

A one-star review posted on Tuesday slams the cafe, saying, "Aroma is trying to claim the bench in front of their location, which is actually public property. Ignore their makeshift sign and sit down in it."

Matlow explains that he had concerns about the POPS spaces at Yonge and Eglinton even before the supposedly publicly accessible areas were built in the 2010s.

In addition to the square, the mall constructed a lesser-known public space atop its expanded podium rooftop, which many locals have no idea they can access due to a lack of visibility or signage.

"Over a decade ago, when [owner] RioCan infilled what was then a much larger square at that corner to expand their mall, I spoke out against their plan that they had agreed on with Councillor Karen Stintz to create a POPS on the rooftop, given that it would never feel like, or even seen from the street, to be publicly accessible space," said Matlow.

Other cities, like New York, have mandated signage for such POPS, providing the public with a visible indication that they are welcome — limiting businesses or on-site security from enforcing non-applicable rules.

Suggestion: Toronto should adopt the very clear signage that is standard with New York City POPS https://t.co/BsGNVDB6Eb pic.twitter.com/nnmAjSWBrC

— Alex Bozikovic (@alexbozikovic) August 13, 2024

blogTO has reached out to Aroma Espresso Bar via phone and email seeking comment on the controversial advisory posted outside of its Yonge and Eglinton location.