An expresso machine whirs. A passing truck's brakes squeal. A nearby laptop chirps to life.

The competing sounds are music to Wendell Johnson's ears. The small coffee shop off Humphreys represents a dream he has deferred for several years: a presence for the Flagstaff Nordic Center inside the city limits.

Johnson had considered such a plan before. But when he saw the empty building where the Coffee Pedaler used to be, he knew he had found the perfect location.

In late August, Johnson and co-owners Tim Allen and Guillermo Cortes opened the KickStand coffee house. But it was the unused entry space at the front that Johnson has his eye on — it will serve as a second equipment rental location for the Flagstaff Nordic Center, named the Nordic Nook.

Johnson said he will offer rentals and also sell skis and other equipment that are being phased out from his extensive inventory at the Nordic Center on Highway 180, where the rental shop is connected to miles of groomed ski trails.

But Johnson also sees an opportunity to advertise lesser- known services offered by the Nordic Center, like renting out the facility for weddings.

"We are trying to get out of our reliance on the winter season," Johnson said.

The owners would not discuss how much was invested to start up the KickStand coffee house. But they did say the investment for the Nordic Nook was relatively small — under $10,000.

"This was a good way to get an in-town presence without a huge investment," Johnson said.

Allen said he believed the costs to start up a full-service, standalone ski shop would have been at least $100,000.

Daily equipment rentals of different types of skis, snowshoes, sleds and even ski toboggans for babies will be available, depending on weather and customer demand. This year represents the first time that the Nordic Center has been willing to allow its rental ski equipment to be used outside the Nordic Center's trails.

Johnson said daily ski rental packages will cost between $10 and $20, with day passes at the Nordic Center costing an additional $10 to $18.

But the Nordic Nook isn't the only place in town to rent cross country ski equipment. Steve Chatinsky with Peace Surplus said he welcomes the competition, saying Flagstaff is big enough for the two businesses.

Johnson and Allen said their business plan has the coffee shop paying for a majority of the expenses through the sales of coffee and small snacks like doughnuts and breakfast sandwiches.

And so far, business is good, said Allen.

The KickStand coffee house has re-introduced one item offered by the previous tenant. A mix of two teas, honey and steamed soy milk, Allen said the drink, better known as "the fixie," is popular with customers.

Allen said the use of a particular brand of coffee produced in Italy, known as Illy, has also brought in a loyal base of coffee lovers.

Johnson hopes the location on Humphreys, coupled with the Illy coffee brand, will mean skiers and sledders visiting Arizona Snowbowl, Wing Mountain or the Nordic Center will build a steady customer base this winter.

"Hopefully, rather than stopping at Starbucks, they will grab an Illy," Johnson said.

Joe Ferguson can be reached at jferguson@azdailysun.com or 556-2253.

Nordic Nook/KickStand

719 N. Humphreys St.

Flagstaff

(928) 779-5393

Hours:

5 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays,

6 a.m. to 4 p.m. , weekends

Hours are expected to be extended this winter