The Nine Line Apparel and Black Rifle Coffee Company coffee shop on River St. has been open for some time, but due to COVID-19 restrictions, the location never got to have a grand opening free of masks and restrictions on numbers of guests. So, this is it.

“We haven’t really advertised and promoted the downtown location, so this is our big announcement,” said retired U.S. Army Capt. Tyler Merritt, CEO and founder of Nine Line Apparel.

Join the Black Rifle Coffee Company and Nine Line Foundation teams July 17 as they announce the grand opening of their apparel and coffee shop combined into one location at 307 W. River St.

The location offers barista-crafted caffeinated beverages, Black Rifle Coffee Company Gear and Nine Line Foundation apparel.

Merritt said tradition for a grand opening is to invite the community.

“The idea is to bring the community together and have a fun event,” Merritt said.

The BRCC and Nine Line Foundation founders, Mat Best, Jared “JT” Taylor, and Merritt will be in attendance to mingle with guests.

“This is the official grand opening to get everyone together – Tyler, JT, Mat Best,” said Regina Wages, events manager for Nine Line. “It’s crazy the following they have.”

As if the visiting founders weren’t enough of a draw, the first 50 patrons at the grand opening will get an engraved Black Rifle Coffee Company — BRCC 20 oz Yeti — good for one year of free coffee. There will be giveaways beginning 8 a.m. to noon. Bass Pro Shop will giveaway over $500 in prizes, including a Cabela’s 24-Can Polar Cap Cooler grand prize, a Cabela’s Stainless steel table top grill and two Cabela’s Big Outdoorsman XL chairs. Nine Line will also giveaway two helicopter rides and Nine Line Apparel prizes.

“We’ll go fly around downtown Savannah and land at the headquarters [on Fort Argyle Rd.],” Merritt said.

The headquarters was the first location of the Black Rifle Coffee Company, but they have opened several since then.

Merritt said this will be BRCC’s 10th location.

“Their goal is to hire 10,000 veterans,” Merritt said. “They’re trying to grow as fast as possible.

Both Nine Line and BRCC are veteran-owned and operated businesses.

“Their founders are Rangers and [Special Forces] guys; it’s a small community within [Special Operations Command],” Merritt said. “We’ve had discussions about missions we were on where I was in the air, they were on the ground. Now, fast-forward a decade later, we’re doing business together.”

Founded in 2012, Nine Line Apparel is a patriotic lifestyle brand based out of Savannah. Nine Line is known as a give-back organization that supports our nation’s veterans and first responders through the Nine Line Foundation and other non-profit initiatives. Visit, ninelineapparel.com.

Black Rifle Coffee Company specializes in premium, small-batch, roast-to-order coffee. Founded in 2014 by Green Beret Evan Hafer and Army Ranger Mat Best, Black Rifle develops their explosive roast profiles with the same mission focus they learned while serving in the military. They’re committed to supporting veterans, law enforcement, and the American way of life. With every purchase you make, they give back. Visit, blackriflecoffee.com.

This article appears in 07-14-2021.