Chocolate Cafe and Coffee Co. has opened a cafe in the center of Greeneville.

"We are so excited to be opening our second location of Chocolate Cafe and Coffee Co. in downtown Greeneville," said Jaci Weaver, co-owner of the business with her husband, Tom Weaver.

Their first Chocolate Cafe opened in May 2008 in Tusculum and continues successfully there.

During that cafe's 1.5 years, the Weavers said, the original Chocolate Cafe has established a good customer base and has experienced personnel.

In Tusculum, the Weavers have added a patio and purchased additional land for more parking and perhaps further expansion.

The new Chocolate Cafe opened quietly on Wednesday in the center of Greeneville at the corner of Main and Depot streets, across from the Greene County Courthouse.

Its hours initially will be 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.

The spacious, high-ceilinged cafe is painted in the attractive colors of historic green and rich terra cotta. The cafe features an open-air kitchen where customers can watch their food being prepared.

The new Chocolate Cafe offers lattes, cappuccinos, frappacchinos, smoothies, just as are served at the Tusculum location.

The Coffee Company of Elizabethton, which is operated by John and Lisa Bunn, roasts coffee beans twice weekly exclusively for the espresso and house blend coffee at Chocolate Cafe.

The downtown Chocolate Cafe offers breakfast items such as homemade scones, cinnamon rolls, croissants, eggs, bacon, waffles, French toast, quiche, and more.

For lunch, it offers an assortment of sandwiches, wraps, paninis (regular sandwiches on artisan breads) served with chips, pasta salad or fruit, gourmet soups, a variety of salads, baked potatoes, and more.

The new Chocolate Cafe also offers a variety of cheesecakes, cakes, pies and homemade chocolates.

New at the downtown location are "flats" with various toppings, which look like miniature gourmet pizzas, and assorted flavors of ice cream -- from the basic of double chocolate to strawberry cheesecake.

Also, keeping visiting tourists in mind, the new Chocolate Cafe sells Greeneville memorabilia such as mugs and T-shirts.

The couple said they hope opening of their second Chocolate Cafe will encourage other businesses to locate downtown.

Tom Weaver said, "As you drive into the downtown area, it is so beautiful. With the churches, lawyers and other businesses already here, you know that development is just about to happen -- it's got to start somewhere -- why not begin with us? We look forward to several new businesses coming to the downtown in the near future."

Speaking of the newly opened cafe, Jaci Weaver added, "We hope that people will make us a regular part of their weekly routine."

The new cafe's telephone number is 638-2109.