The business Your 3rd Spot has one location in Atlanta and will open in 2028 in suburban Schaumburg, Illinois. Their website first features videos and pictures of a vibrant social scene with food, activity, and conversation, and then they describe what they are about:

This directly references the idea of “third places,” a concept popularized by sociologist Ray Oldenburg in his 1989 book The Great Good Place. Oldenburg suggests Americans lost the places between home and work where they could meet and talk to other residents. Coffee shops (Starbucks tried to see itself as part of this), bars, settings that did not require the kind of activity or conversation that occurs at home and work. They could talk about community and life.

This is not necessarily a new business model. There are a number of local and national businesses that offer food and entertainment. Rather than having just a restaurant or just activities, such places provide a range of options for customers.

What does it cost to participate in this 3rd Spot?

This is not necessarily a new business model. There are a number of local and national businesses that offer food and entertainment. Rather than having just a restaurant or just activities, such places provide a range of options for customers.

It will be interesting to see if the clear pitch to be a “third place” works. Will true community develop or is this another option for consumers to consider as they seek out social activity along the car-dominated streets of the sprawling United States?