Rick’s Coffee Bar was named to honor the memory of Rick Gustafson, a Master Sergeant in the United States Air Force. Rick served his country with everything he had and ultimately took his own life due to the emotional and mental wounds incurred in service. The loss of hope is something that can be experienced by both Veterans and non-Veterans alike, which is why we believe community is so important.

Community can be one of the most important parts of recovery for Veterans. Community not only with their friends and family, but just as importantly, with other Veterans. Rick's Place, as it was originally named, was created in 2017 to give Veterans in Minneapolis a place to come together and share their experiences and to feel the camaraderie that can sometimes be missing when a soldier returns home. What began as a donation-based coffee shop for Veterans, has now evolved into a full-service coffee shop open to the public. Rick’s Coffee Bar officially opened the summer of 2022 and is only a few blocks from the Minneapolis VA Medical Center.