LEWISTON – Just Joan’s, the popular downtown bakery and sandwich shop, has opened a satellite cafe.

Just Joan’s at Mr. Paperback in the Promenade Mall off Lisbon Street started serving customers early this month, said Dan Pelletier, Joan’s husband.

Just Joan’s at Mr. Paperback offers “similar foods to Just Joan’s” downtown, Pelletier said, but it also offers an expanded menu with some of Joan’s upscale specialties.

They include her homemade clam and seafood chowders and other hot soups, salads and a variety of vegetarian offerings.

Carla Fortier and Ruth Grenier, Dan Pelletier’s sister-in-law and neighbor respectively, are keeping the new Just Joan’s stocked with food choices. Both apprenticed under Joan’s watch at the downtown eatery, Dan Pelletier said. They’re preparing meals, desserts and other offerings based on Joan’s recipes.

Just Joan’s also sends some of its bakery products from the downtown store to the cafe at Mr. Paperback, he said.

Josh Erskine and Mike Morin, who had worked at Mr. Paperback’s cafe, remain there now working for Just Joan’s, Pelletier said.

He said Mr. Paperback approached he and his wife about running the cafe. The store wanted to put more focus on its core book and card sales business, he said, but still wanted to offer customers quality food choices.

Just Joan’s cafe at the book store is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, Pelletier said. Hours might be extended into the evening if business warrants, he added. The store is open until 9:30 p.m.

So far, Pelletier said, “business is very good.”

It’s also been good for his family life, he added.

The expansion allowed Dan Pelletier to quit his night job as a printer to devote his days to shepherding the new business and needs at the original Just Joan’s.

He says he and Joan now get to see each other regularly instead of the quick hellos dictated by their previously contrasting hours.