Amman municipality closes 100 coffee-on-the-road shops

AMMAN — The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) has closed down 100 stores selling coffee on the street since the beginning of this year, Mazen Al Farajeen, director of the GAM media centre, told The Jordan Times on Wednesday. 

Around 2,252 coffee shops sell hot and cold drinks as well as sandwiches to motorists on the road in Amman, according to a GAM statement. 

Earlier this year, the municipality said it will not renew the licences of cafeteria owners who sell coffee on the street and will further tighten control over these vendors to make sure that they do not violate the regulations. 

The decision was met by a number of demonstrations staged by the storeowners. Mervat Mheirat, director of GAM’s health supervision department, told The Jordan Times recently that the measure is designed to ensure traffic safety and public health.

The statement said GAM set a number of regulations for people who want to open a coffee shop. 

The regulations prohibit these shops from deploying their employees on the pavements of main streets to promote the store and deliver coffee to motorists on the road. 

GAM also prohibits shop owners from installing flashing lights that might harm motorists and distract them while driving. 

The municipality stopped issuing licences to coffee stores in 2007, the statement said.