Kickstarter campaign helped propel owners to convert former Canton gas station to a coffee shop.

CANTON Walkie Talkie Espresso & Coffee, a bright and airy new spot in a converted circa-1934 service station, is a dream come true for its owners.

"We're giving the coffee experience that I look for when I go to cities," said Lindsey King, an award-winning barista who's been making precision lattes and cappuccinos for 13 years. "It's been a long journey but I'm super glad we're here."

"It's beyond what I could have imagined, so cheerful and welcoming and relaxing," said her husband, John King, previously a sandwich-maker at downtown's Deli Ohio. "Everything about this place feels perfect — this neighborhood and the neighbors, this historic building, doing exactly what we want. We're putting love and heart into every drink."

Ryan Miller, the owner of Deli Ohio, purchased the vacant building at 15th Street and Woodland Avenue NW, in hopes of elevating the neighborhood in which he is a homeowner.

"Coming (to Canton) from Nashville and before that Seattle, I was used to walking to the neighborhood coffee shop," Miller said. The Kings chose the name Walkie Talkie as a reference to neighbors walking to the shop and socializing.

Community effort

Before opening as Walkie Talkie, the building underwent extensive renovation, which included much cleaning and painting, adding a restroom, and removing a dropped ceiling that revealed a 13-foot ceiling. A Kickstarter campaign that concluded early last June raised $32,049 from 387 donors.

"Lots of people have their hands on this project," Lindsey King said. "Kickstarter brought them together."

Consequently, Walkie Talkie had a built-in supportive customer base before it opened. The shop opened April 12, the day after it passed final city inspections.

"We thought we'd do this hush-hush opening and we were slammed," John said. "We had a line out the door for three days straight," Lindsey said.

In its second week of operation, Walkie Talkie already has regular customers who visit daily. "They say we ruined coffee for them anywhere else," John King said.

He has spent hours and hours practicing his latte art, he said, with instruction from Lindsey.

A third King with a prominent presence at Walkie Coffee is the couple's daughter, Maxine, born Feb. 15.

"I heard someone on the phone say, 'I come for the coffee but I stay for the baby,'" Lindsey said.

Special brew

The coffee served at Walkie Talkie comes exclusively from Heart Coffee Roasters in Portland, Ore. "I had their coffee in Detroit once and it was one of those standout coffee experiences I remembered for years," Lindsey said. "Their coffees are smooth, none are super acidic or bitter. Pour-overs give a lot of clarity to the flavors."

Heart Coffee Roasters sent a representative to Canton for two days in January to work with the Kings on preparation theories.

"We're their exclusive account in Ohio," Lindsey said.

Distinctive on the Walkie Talkie menu, and already gaining popularity, are basil and rosemary lattes, which use a housemade simple syrup from fresh herbs. Both are sweet and aromatic; the basil latte is more subtle and the rosemary is stronger. The chocolatte is made using chocolate milk from Hartzler's Family Dairy in Wooster, provider of all of Walkie Talkie's milk, which comes in glass bottles.

"I want to use local products as much as possible, and Hartzler's quality is tip-top," said Lindsey, who previously was a barrista at Muggswigz Coffee and Tea for seven years, then Four Kids Coffee for six years.

Another Walkie Talkie menu item is the 8-ounce Walkaccino, a cappuccino "that should last you your walk home," Lindsey said. "The balance of coffee and milk is really pleasing. It's a good starter drink for people who are just getting into espresso drinks."

Purchased for Walkie Talkie using Kickstarter money was a state-of-the-art La Marzocca espresso machine.

"We can pull a shot manually, then program that shot in and replicate the one we pulled, which allows us more time to interact with customers," Lindsey said. "You usually have to time the shots."

Walkie Talkie enthusiasts have been donating items for the shop and its decor. Gifts have included a record player, a Walkie Talkie throw pillow, a "Stranger Things" poster, and a customized Monopoly game with local businesses. There is a kids' corner with crayons and coloring sheets.

Coming soon to Walkie Talkie are outdoor seating, pastries and hand-painted exterior signage from Cleveland's Old Soul Sign Co.

Reach Dan at 330-580-8306 or dan.kane@cantonrep.com

On Twitter: @dkaneREP