It took longer than they expected, but Colleen and Dave Merriman finally opened their second Java Joe’s last Friday.

The new coffee shop is in Sabino Plaza, a small shopping center off Guadalupe, across from Albertsons supermarket.

“We tried to get into DeVargas Center, but they have a non-compete clause with Starbucks,” which is on the south side of DeVargas Center, Dave Merriman said.

The Merrimans have been building on their new space since March, “trying to make everything flow as efficiently as we can,” Dave Merriman said. The shop was supposed to open in July but experienced construction delays.

The original Java Joe’s, in Rodeo Plaza off Rodeo Road at Camino Carlos Rey, has a drive-up window that does a lot of business, but a drive-up wasn’t possible at the new location, Dave Merriman said.

“It would have meant using part of the DeVargas Center parking lot,” he said, something other merchants using the lot would have protested.

Not having the drive-up will allow the northside Java Joe’s to be a more intimate space, Dave Merriman said.

“We won’t miss” the drive-up, he added.

In addition to coffee-based beverages, Java Joe’s also carries a variety of baked goods from The Chocolate Maven. There’s also quiche from Joe’s Diner.

The original Java Joe’s has a large following in its Rodeo Road neighborhood, a success the Merrimans hope to duplicate in their new coffee shop.

“We’re fortunate in having a good local clientele at the other location,” Merriman said. “Here, we’ve already had people stop by from La Tierra, Las Campanas and the Sabino Road area.” He also expects to attract customers from downtown.

Merriman’s goal is to have one or two more coffee shops, including one in the downtown area and possibly another off Cerrillos Road near Airport Road, where the city’s growth is concentrated.

“We have to get this shop up and running smoothly, and then perhaps we’ll start looking out there,” he said.

Like the original Java Joe’s, the new shop has wireless Internet service, which allows customers to use their laptops while they enjoy their coffee.

Customers make frequent use of the service, but some of them get carried away, sitting for hours on the Internet after finishing their beverage. That’s when Dave Merriman has to politely request them not to linger much longer.

“Ninety-five percent of the people using the service respect” the fact that they’re getting something for free and don’t misuse the privilege, Merriman said. “Five percent don’t.”

The new Java Joe’s will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week, at least to start, Dave Merriman said. “We’ll do that for a few months and see how it goes. Then we’ll revisit the issue. We’re hoping to get some of the movie crowd” from the theater at DeVargas Center. “We hope they’ll come over for dessert.”

The original Java Joe’s is open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the weekends.

Dave Merriman said he will spend most of his time working at the new Java Joe’s in the next few weeks, training eight new employees in providing his kind of customer service.

“When I first opened the original Java Joe’s, I thought it was all about the coffee,” he said. “I soon realized it was much more to do with customer service and developing relationships.

“One thing we really try to do here is to make an impact on someone’s day. If they’re having a rough day, we try to make it positive. If they’re having a great day, we want to help them continue that.”

Dave Merriman said his own philosophy is spreading what he called “a groovy vibe” or positive energy with whomever he comes in contact.

“It sounds a little Santa Fe-ish, but I believe it,” he said. “It could change the way the world is. I will spend time and energy so my staff understands that perspective as well.