MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota — In Minneapolis, an organization supporting veterans knows the power of community and a good cup of coffee.
"You can tell people truly enjoy coming here as a community space," said Eric Geesaman, while inside Rick's Coffee Bar. The full-service coffee shop is located in the Nokomis East neighborhood.
But to truly understand this space, you have to start with its name.
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," said a statement on Rick's Coffee Bar's website.
100% of the proceeds from Rick's Coffee Bar are used to support veterans and their families through Every Third Saturday (ETS) — the nonprofit that operates the coffee shop.
ETS was founded in 2009 by Tom and Jessi McKenna.
"It was a chance encounter with a homeless veteran," Geesaman explained. "Tom saw him one day, didn't have an interaction, didn't sit well with him. So he went back the next day... Tom asked what he wanted, what he needed, figured $20 or a meal or something. And the guy's like, 'I just haven't changed my socks or underwear in two weeks.' Just the dignity that comes along with being able to put on clean clothes, that's what the springboard was for ETS."
ETS' Veterans Resource and Empowerment Center serves as a hub and community space for their services.
"I like it because it's a lot of fun here. Lot of good comrades. You can talk to a lot of older veterans. They can tell you what they went through," said Chris Sanders, a Marine Corps veteran.
One program is a five-week course that focuses on post-traumatic growth. Geesaman, who served 10 years in the Marine Corps, took the course in 2021.
"Two deployments to Afghanistan... saw some really wild stuff on my first deployment in 2012. Didn't really help out... the deployment in 2014. Then just now knowing... struggling with undiagnosed PTSD, the drinking... ultimately ended up in a divorce from my first wife," Geesaman said. "But finally being able and ready to want and accept help. Just being able to process my own trauma, I think, has given me a lot of respect and insight to what other veterans may be going through."
After finishing up the course, Tom approached him about becoming a veterans advocate at ETS.
"100% of the proceeds from Rick's come over here to us and that allows us to continue to build upon the internship program. It helps us keep the lights on over here, helps us do our day-to-day. Everything that we do for veterans on on this side," Geesaman said.
The Veterans Resource and Empowerment Center is attached to Rick's Coffee Bar. The ETS internship program includes jobs at Rick's Coffee Bar.
"The entire premise of the internship is... getting veterans back to being in the workforce. Whether that's reminding them what it's like to be on a schedule, what it's like to show up ready to do a job," Geesaman said. "It fluctuates from six to twelve months. It's about 20 hours a week but part of that 20 hours is actually they meet with the program manager to make sure that they're achieving their goals. They're working towards what they ultimately want to do. I took a career coach certification course so I can help them with the job search. Tom's a life coach; he helps them on that avenue. We just really try to make sure that we set them up for success moving forward."
Rick's Coffee Bar
5402 43rd Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55417
Monday-Saturday, 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.