Ashveen’s latte with heart-shaped latte art from Commonplace Coffee in Squirrel Hill

When was the last time you went somewhere just to spend time with yourself? What about the last time you felt genuinely connected with other people? Or even the last the time you did something outside of your home and work obligations?

Can you even think of a place where you can do any of these things?

The Loss of the Third Place

In 1989, sociologist and anthropologist Ray Oldenburg coined the term “third place” to describe exactly these sorts of places. He describes them as

“a generic designation for a great variety of public places that host the regular, voluntary, informal, and happily anticipated gatherings of individuals beyond the realms of home and work.”

As per Oldenburg, all third places have these three things in common:

1. They level the social playing field by establishing all guests as having the same status within the space. Everyone is welcome, strangers and regulars alike.
2. Conversation is the main activity, and people are in a general state of flow and play.
3. The ✨ vibes ✨ are warm and welcoming, encouraging feelings of belonging and protectiveness over the space.

If you have trouble picturing or identifying a space like this in your life, it’s not your fault. In general, third places have been disappearing; this vanishing act can be attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic, which prompted everyone to shift to digital spaces and methods of connecting. It also forced businesses to re-imagine their digital methods of providing services and catering to their customers, turning their focus away from their physical space and toward their digital presence.

Starbucks on Spring St. in NYC in the early 2020s (left) to 2024 (right). Photo from Carolyn Capo on X.

Even Starbucks, once lauded as the ultimate third space, was criticized for its prioritization of app users and drive-through customers. As baristas rush to fulfill pick-up orders placed by overextended people itching to be on their way to work, Starbucks’ trademark inviting, conversational atmosphere is eroded by every car appended to the endless queue outside the drive through window. They also recently reversed their open-door policy, which means that now only paying customers can sit and enjoy their space.

Third Places in Unlikely Spaces

However, all hope is not lost! As we recover from the pandemic as a society, there has been a slow movement toward fostering human connection in-person again. Continuing our examination of Starbucks, the coffee giant re-introduced ceramic for-here mugs with free refills for brewed coffee and tea earlier this year, encouraging customers to sit and stay awhile longer.

There are also a number of third places in Pittsburgh! Yes, that’s right, there is more to Pittsburgh than just N Craig Street, and it’s all yours to experience, provided that you are willing to step outside of the CMU area.