At 5 p.m. on Dec. 20, Smoke-n-Joes Café, 128 Locust Lane, closed its doors forever.

That is, under then-owner Antonio Capaccio. The closing sparked students Ryan Klingensmith and David Stewart, both café regulars, to find out what it would take to bring Smoke-n-Joes under their wings.

Klingensmith (senior-film and video) said he and Stewart (senior-history) originally planned to become more involved in the business with Capaccio's co-owner, Mike Fry. However, Fry ended up choosing not to continue owning his stake in the business.

That's where Chris Winslow (graduate-comparative literature), another regular, came in. He was ready and willing to contribute to the venture, and the three teamed up to keep the café open over winter break.

The trio officially signed the paperwork for complete control last week.

The new owners didn't pay Capaccio for the transfer, but instead assumed debts that the business accumulated. This allowed Klingensmith, Stewart and Winslow to open immediately and have all the café's resources ready to use.

"It's hard to start a business and have everything available to run on day one," Winslow said.

He declined to comment on the exact amount of debt incurred.

Capaccio could not be reached for comment.

Some of the specialty items such as rolling tobacco have been stocked already, and all three owners said they hope to get stocked in more specialty cigarettes such as cloves, as well as pipe tobacco and cigars for the store's walk-in humidor.

"It's the only smoking coffee shop around here," Stewart said. "It would be a shame to lose that."

Klingensmith and Winslow agreed that Smoke-n-Joes' smoky environment is one of its biggest selling points.

Klingensmith also said although this past month has been somewhat difficult, having the specialty tobacco items in stock should help boost business and bring in more money.

They said they hope steady business and loyal regulars will slowly alleviate the amount of debt.

The three owners also have no payroll because they are the sole employees. Stewart is taking just one course this semester and works during the day. Klingensmith and Winslow work evenings, and all three share weekend work.

All live off their current savings for the time being, with hopes that sometime in the future they may be able to gain some income from the business.

Regulars are a major source of business right now, as they continue to frequent Smoke-n-Joes and, in many cases, are now buying more than usual.

"They've been helping out as much as possible, and bringing new people down here," Stewart said.

The regulars are very important to all three owners, but they also said they like to see new faces and hope new people continue to appear, and they have so far this semester.

"One of the first nights of the semester was packed to the point of standing-room only," Klingensmith said. "And only a few of the faces were people we've seen before."

In other business-boosting plans, Klingensmith, Stewart and Winslow have renewed a former Smoke-n-Joes relation with its next door neighbor, College Pizza. Customers are permitted to get food from College Pizza and eat it in the café, provided they don't bring in outside beverages and uphold the café's one drink minimum.

The co-owners said they want to work with the business community in State College and have done so by making Smoke-n-Joes a part of Nittany Meal Plan, as well as selling locally made teas.