Monday, December 09, 2024
30.0°F

Black Rifle Coffee opens shop in downtown Kalispell

by SUMMER ZALESKY Daily Inter Lake
| February 26, 2023 12:00 AM

A brand closely tied to its pro-gun image with close links to American military and law enforcement has opened up a new outpost in downtown Kalispell.

Retired Navy SEAL and world-record breaking skydiver Andy Stumpf has teamed up with Denver Maddux to put a Montana spin on the traditional Black Rifle Coffee Company. The shop opened recently in downtown Kalispell.

“Black Rifle is more than just a coffee shop. It aligns with what people in Northwest Montana are interested in the outdoors, being active and patriotic, pro-Second amendment and pro-veteran. It's just not like that everywhere,” said Stumpf.

The popular coffee brand, which began as an online only experience, now has around 20 outposts across the country. Stumpf explained that while Black Rifle Coffee Kalispell is tied closely to the national brand, the shop is locally owned.

“This store looks nothing like the traditional Black Rifle Coffee Company, and not in a bad way. We have strong connections with the company and are representing their brand, but we’re doing it in a way that is different from every other store in the country. We want this to be a Montana coffee shop,” said Stumpf.

Maddux, a self proclaimed “coffee nerd” lived in Australia for five years where he discovered the heart of coffee culture. With a fresh space in Kalispell to share his love of coffee, Maddux hopes to teach others how to brew and taste coffee and hinted at the possibility of coffee-making classes.

“In Australia, I learned about different brewing techniques, flavor profiles, and which beans came from where,” said Maddux. “When I moved back to the states, I wanted to carry that with me and now we have a place where we can do whatever we want with a really good coffee brand. It’s total fulfillment.”

The 4,600 square foot coffee shop offers grab and go items, two different espressos, three drip coffee roasts, and 12 pour over roasts with names like Space Bear, Gunship, and AK-47 which are available for purchase in store. Twenty people are already on staff and by summer, the team is expected to include 40 to 60 part time and full time employees.

“We wanted to create something that would give other people a reason to invest in downtown. Someone’s gotta move first so we figured we’d take that risk,” Stumpf said. “We’re trying to improve where we live and be a flagpole in the community. We want to build a place where people come to hang out and don’t want to leave.”

While the shop is open for business, the property is still in progress as the south side of the building will be developed into an open space area with a large lawn for kids and pets to run around, fire pits, and food trucks.

“We’re creating access to a brand that people really love,” said Maddux. “We put our heart and soul and money into this thing. We live and breathe this place.”

Black Rifle Coffee Company Kalispell is located at 305 2nd Ave W. and can be reached by phone at 406-309-6166. The shop is open Monday through Sunday, 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For more information, visit https://blackriflecoffeekalispell.com/.

photo

Spacious interior with a variety of seating at Black Rifle Coffee Company in Kalispell on Tuesday, Feb. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)

photo

Outdoor seating area at Black Rifle Coffee Company in Kalispell on Tuesday, Feb. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)

photo

A latte at Black Rifle Coffee Company in Kalispell on Tuesday, Feb. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)