Coffee shop owners hope
to jazz up' Decatur

By Staff
COFFEE'S READY Decatur's Mikel Denson, right, and his wife Deanna enjoy the ambiance in the courtyard of their new coffee shop in the Newton County town. The shop offers coffee, pastries and other items in a relaxed atmosphere they hope will attract customers of all ages. Photo courtesy of the newton record
November 16, 2003
By Trisha Niswander
The Newton Record
DECATUR Mikel and Deanna Denson have combined their passion for coffee with a love of their hometown to create a quaint coffee shop in Decatur that they hope will appeal to young and old alike.
The two hope their products, consisting of several different flavored coffees, smoothies and pastries, will provide not only an extra flare to Decatur, but also a soothing place to sit and relax with friends and family.
The shop, located behind the old sheriff's office, is in a small building that features a counter filled with coffee flavors, pastries and a blender for smoothies. There is a quaint courtyard outside the shop, where customers can sit and enjoy their refreshments with the sounds of jazz or light music floating through the air.
The Densons have added a privacy fence around the courtyard, decorated with white lights, and have included a small fireplace type area with self-contained gas logs. Every corner of the courtyard has its own "chiminea" to help provide warmth during chilly days.
The Decatur Woman's Progressive Club recently visited the coffee shop and held their meeting in the courtyard. The Densons said the shop has become a place where they see neighbors and church friends alike, and they hope to see more events hosted in the courtyard.
The two have even discussed live music, featuring their signature jazz or light music.
Mikel Denson mentioned the possibility of featuring Frank Sinatra music. He commented that Decatur and the surrounding area is ideal for an "artsy," bed-and-breakfast-type community.
The shop features several different espresso-based drinks, including their signature "Carmel Chocolate Delight." Hot Caramel Apple Cider also tops the menu, and various flavors of gourmet hot chocolate are also included.
The Densons wanted to provide for the non-coffee drinker, so they added several flavors of smoothies, including Strawberry Extreme and Orange Cream.
All pastries are made from scratch at Meridian's Lagniappe. They feature Cinna-rolls, muffins, brownies and cake by the slice. The cake flavors change occasionally, but they include Italian cream and Red Velvet.