Canopy Credit Union will open a 1,200-square-foot Ladder Coffee Roasters store this month in its Spokane Valley branch, at 13105 E. Sprague.

Canopy opened the 3,600-square-foot branch in September with an open floor plan and room for an eventual partner. The coffee shop will be Spokane-based Ladder Coffee’s first store in Spokane Valley.

Ladder Coffee owner Aaron Rivkin says the goal is to make customers feel welcome and comfortable. Through his own personal experience, Rivkin claims not all coffee shops are welcoming to those who may be experiencing a tough time.

Rivkin himself spent a year locked up, a result of a pair of felony convictions, he says.

“Ladder doesn’t just serve coffee – we serve community,” he says. “When people walk in our doors, they’ll feel comfortable and welcome.”

Ladder Coffee’s original store operates at 1516 W. Riverside between the Browne’s Addition neighborhood and downtown Spokane.

The Spokane Valley store will offer both sit-down space and a drive-thru for motorists.

“We can’t wait to share this unique coffee experience with Spokane Valley,” Rivkin says.

Charlotte Nemec, president and CEO of Canopy Credit Union, says she reached out to Rivkin about putting Ladder Coffee in the branch.

“After my first meeting with Aaron, I came back to the team beaming with excitement about how well our mission aligned with Ladder’s. I was inspired by Aaron’s story and how he envisioned Ladder’s impact on the Spokane community,” Nemec says.