Today we’d like to introduce you to Lindsey King
Hi Lindsey, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started my first job in a coffeeshop in 2003 and was a barista until 2018. I fell in love with the artistry of the role and really got to utilize coffee as my creative outlet, My favorite part of the job has always been the relational aspect. Making stranger’s days, developing rapport with regulars, training new employees and watching them grow, were the highlights of my job. I always thought to myself if I won the lottery, I would still want to work at a coffeeshop. After many years, the passion inside me still alive and well, I wanted to create a shop of my own that was a reflection of who I was. I knew I couldn’t do it on my own though, I truly needed the community that I had been serving for so long. Recently married, my husband was the idea’s biggest support and said “let’s do it”. Canton made it clear that they agreed, after funding a successful Kickstarter campaign for us to open.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Running a small business has been hard, especially going through unforeseen circumstances like COVID. We opened in April of 2019, less than a year before the pandemic. We also had little ones born in 2019 and 2020, so we have had our fair share of challenges. Thankfully, we have an amazing team and we surpassed our 5 year anniversary despite the odds. I believe there are obstacles and struggles anywhere and everywhere in life, so to still be doing something I love with people I love, I am more invigorated than ever. I’ve seen a lot of negativity about Canton but like our wall mural says “take the can’t outta Canton”. Positive feedback from customers and kind words really make a difference to us. They let us know that people see that what we do is different and that they appreciate us being here. Our community is what makes me want to keep pouring into it, when things get hard.
We’ve been impressed with Walkie Talkie Pastry and Coffee, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are the only “neighborhood” coffeeshop in Canton, operating out of an almost 100 year old gas station that we repurposed. We make top notch standard espresso drinks and drip coffee, but we really shine in our seasonal menus and specialty drinks. This is owed to our house made syrups, sourcing of unique ingredients, and our teams unlimited creativity. We craft themed menus with exciting marketing like our recent holiday menu which was Home Alone themed. Our top selling drink year round is the Cinnabrew, a mix of cold brew, oat milk, and syrups that taste like you are drinking cereal milk!
We also bake all of our own delicious baked goods and have an extremely talented team that come up with offerings you simply can’t find elsewhere. Some current examples are our cruffins (think croissant + muffin), lemon meringue pop tarts, white cheddar everything scones, and vegan cookies.
Our current local partners are Phoenix Coffee and Storehouse Tea from Cleveland, and Akron Honey from Akron. Phoenix is an employee owned company, Storehouse Tea employs local refugee women and is all organic, and Akron Honey is a Black owned business. We put a lot of intention into the products we offer and foster relationships with our suppliers. In addition, we work very closely with an amazing team (shoutout Agape Photography) that does our photography and branding. They really understand who we are and make our vision come alive.
We also offer Neighbor Nights during the warmer months to further realize our dream of the space being a walkable destination that would connect people that might not otherwise have the opportunity to meet and mingle (hence where we came up with our name, Walkie Talkie!). The community definitely loves that we have food trucks for Neighbor Nights as they appreciate being able to walk and get dinner in the neighborhood. We host local vendors and makers (many living in the neighborhood), live music performances, and activities for kids.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is having a positive impact on our community, beyond just being another business!
I believe with my whole heart that we are making a difference daily! Coffee is the vehicle that we use to serve people, but the environment that we have created both physically and energetically is what we truly offer. We have made a safe place for our employees and customers, and I feel Walkie Talkie is positivity, and a light in the world that people need. I am proud of the way our employees and I take care of each other. We treat and pay our employees well and therefore have extremely low turnover for our industry. We recently invested in leadership training for the whole team to strengthen us both as individuals and together. They know that I have their backs, and I’m so thankful they understand our mission and bring it to life. It is also encouraging to me that I as a person am still learning and growing, so focusing on self-care allows me to become a better version of myself each day and therefore better my business and therefore better my community. I also am proud of the ways we have been able to support marginalized groups and be an ally. We have used our voice and dollars to support children, women, the neurodiverse, the Black community, and the LGBTQ+ community, and we look forward to continuing to do so. Our shop environment is also bright and cheery with murals painted on the wall that offer encouraging quips that brighten peoples day. Our mission is “to serve coffee with heart” and it is our heart that goes into what we do that makes a difference.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.walkietalkie.coffee
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/walkietalkiecoffee/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/walkietalkiecoffee/
