Jupiter House, under the new ownership of husband-and-wife team Amy and Joey Hawkins, has orbited into a cozier and more customer service-oriented galaxy.

On Oct. 1, the couple bought the five-year-old eclectic and well-loved downtown coffeehouse from its original owners, Brandon and Shannon Wiest.

DRC/Gary Payne

Joey and Amy Hawkins demonstrate their energy and passion Thursday outside one of the downtown Square's modern marvels, Jupiter House. The couple, both experienced business owners, bought the coffee house in October. Since then, they've updated the interior to promote a more inviting and artistic ambience. And it looks as though they both still enjoy imbibing the product they loved so much as regular customers before becoming the owners.

“We couldn’t wait to get our hands on this place,” Amy Hawkins said. “We wanted to make people feel like they’re having a cup of coffee in their living room.”

Closing for two days during Thanks­giving weekend, the couple warmed the coffeehouse with a newly painted ceiling — in a color called butter creme — and avocado green accent walls. A new mural by artist/author Sean Starr — a silver-lined, deep purple Jupiter rising over the back counter — draws in customers.

In addition to new lighting, more furniture and plants, the Hawkinses are welcoming local artwork.

Included in items hung on the formerly blank brick walls are groupings of watercolors by Gaines­ville artist Paige Davidson, and black-and-white photography by employee Meredith Bui.

“We don’t want to be critics,” Joey said. “We just want to be a gallery.”

The Hawkinses’ down-to-earth approach to running Jupiter House is a purposeful move to avoid an elitist attitude that Joey says some coffeehouses have: “If you’re not in the know, you’re not cool.”

They admit that, while they love coffee themselves, they are not aficionados.

“We’re still learning about coffee so we can school others,” he said.

But business ownership is a skill each has mastered. Joey owned Cinnamonster Bakery franchises in Gainesville, Lewis­ville’s Vista Ridge Mall, Grapevine Mills mall and one in Chicago.  At age 16, he said, he was the first employee at the original Cinnamonster near Littleton, Colo., where he grew up.

Amy, originally from Gainesville, has business experience that spans running a belt kiosk at Grapevine Mills — the first business the Hawkinses bought after they were married nine years ago — and a jewelry store at Gainesville Outlet Mall, next to her husband’s bakery.

The two met 14 years ago at that jewelry store, which they later bought.

“We were mall rats,” he said.

But, tired of the mall atmosphere, the couple sold their franchises. Living in Denton and as customers of Jupiter House for three years, Joey learned from the previous owners that they were considering putting the coffeehouse up for sale.

“This is something Amy and I wanted to do together,” he said.

The Hawkinses’ mission for a service-driven establishment is evidenced by their recent move into an apartment over La Di Da, a few businesses down.

“It really helps with the 24-hour thing,” Amy said. “It’s nice to set the alarm at 1:30 a.m., throw [on] some clothes and come downstairs.”

The couple works the middle-of-the-night shift two nights a week. While they’ve had a few issues with homeless and intoxicated visitors in the middle of the night, Joey said the increased presence of the Denton police bicycle patrol has helped.

“We never close,” he said. “But that’s part of the appeal of Jupiter House.”

Jupiter House originally opened in the space between the two Denton Downtown Mini- Mall locations, which is now La Di Da. In May 2006, the coffeehouse expanded to the old T & Sons location.

The current 2,500-square-foot location has allowed for almost double the floor space, improved restrooms and better outdoor signage.

The Hawkinses kept the same menu, including espresso, coffees, smoothies, shakes, teas, various pastries and bagels, but added homemade cupcakes from a bakery in Gainesville and a daily chalkboard special.

Settling into their new business, Amy and Joey Hawkins said future aspirations include opening a few drive-through locations in Denton and possibly adding a rooftop patio. They also plan to host live acoustic music sets, adding to the shop’s artsy ambience.

Jupiter House’s customer base represents the eclectic demographic of Denton.

“We have all walks of life,” Joey said. “Business people, musicians, lawyers, students.”

Phil Jordan, co-owner of Business Air at Denton Municipal Airport, is part of a group of about 25 regular customers who have been meeting every morning at Jupiter House for four years.

Jordan said the small-business owners, bankers, lawyers, doctors and professionals arrive as early as 7:30 a.m. to talk over coffee.

“It’s great to start the day here,” he said. “We solve all Denton’s problems.”

The morning regulars’ camaraderie has grown over the years, connecting them outside of the coffee shop. Jordan said he is hosting the second “Jupiter House Morning Regulars” Christmas party at his home on Friday.

He praised the new changes.

“Before, it was a nice place to get coffee, but the atmosphere is now nicer, and the Hawkinses seem more appreciative of their customers,” he said. “They’ll do anything to make us feel at home.”

Meredith Fortner, a graduate student in women’s studies at Texas Woman’s University, made Jupiter House her home away from home three years ago, when her parents were visiting from Seattle and discovered the coffeehouse.

“Jupiter House reminded me of Cafe Vivace, my favorite coffee place back home,” she said.

Three to five days a week, Fortner perches at her regular table, orders wheatgrass juice and opens her laptop.

“I’ve pretty much written my thesis in here,” she said.

Fortner said Jupiter House still has the important elements — Ravelin Bakery’s pastries, wheatgrass, free wireless Internet access and 24-hour accessibility. But the Hawkinses made it better, she said.

“It has more life with the added color, art and plants,” Fortner said. “It’s good to see it passed into good hands.”

“We get up early, but we truly love our job,” Amy Hawkins said. “The regulars are awesome, and there’s nothing better than looking out at the courthouse every day.”