DAPHNE, Ala. — Amy Love is busy making coffee and cappuccino nowadays at a job the long-time accountant didn’t expect.

But she always dreamed of owning her own business, and now she’s behind the counter at Bay Coffee Company, one of a few local eateries in Olde Towne Daphne.

The Fairhope resident is a Daphne girl at heart.

She remembers walking the beach to Bayside Academy, where she participated in volleyball, softball and cheerleading. She graduated in 1983, part of Bayside’s first graduating class that included kindergarten through 12th grade.

An All-American in volleyball as a freshman at Huntingdon College, she married a Fairhope man in 1985. The couple moved to Atlanta where Love worked as a corporate accountant.

“In 1994, my husband and I decided to stop chasing the almighty dollar and move back home,” Love said.

Back in Baldwin County for nearly 14 years, a dream opportunity presented itself. Love found a perfect match in Bay Coffee Company with it’s relaxed atmosphere and friendly feel.

“I’ve always been a casual type of person,” Love said. “This place just felt comfortable.”

Julie Myers, the former owner, contributed to Love’s comfort. Love found many similarities between herself and Myers. Both were former accountants; both became widows in 1998 and remarried five years ago.

Both women want the transfer of Bay Coffee to go smoothly.

“Without Julie, I’d have had to close completely then re-open,” Love said.

Myers was the perfect teacher for Love because of their similar backgrounds, Love said.

Myers will soon move to Colorado to be near her daughter, though she dreads parting with Deep South temperatures. “One of my customers gave me a big outdoor thermometer as a gift,” Myers said. She will also be closer to her mother and five siblings who live in South Dakota, so it’s worth facing the cold, she said.

Love has kept most of Julie’s offerings on the menu but has added some of her own.

Mamy’s shrimp salad, shrimp creole and crab quiche are among the additions.

Also, Love is working with Billy’s Seafood in Bon Secour. Beginning in January she will take customer orders and payments and Billy’s will package and send the orders.

That way locals can pick up seafood from Bay Coffee instead of going to Bon Secour.

Love will also have specials every Tuesday including gumbo and hot soup varieties that will change on a regular basis.

Bay Coffee Company is closed for a face lift of sorts that includes an interior paint job; but the shop will reopen Jan. 2.

Love said she invites customers’ suggestions for other improvements.