The term, coined by a sociologist in the 1980s, refers to informal public spaces where people can linger — and some say they’re disappearing.
Starbucks is “reclaiming the ‘third place.’”
That’s what its chief executive, Brian Niccol, proclaimed in an October earnings call, after the coffee giant suffered a slide in sales and store traffic.
He was echoing a statement he had made when he started the job in September — that he wanted to re-establish Starbucks as “a gathering space” where people want “to linger” — a vibe that some say has been lost as drive-through and mobile pickup orders have come to outnumber longer visits.
How it’s pronounced
/thûrd plās/
The term “third place” was coined by the urban sociologist Ray Oldenburg in his 1989 book, “The Great Good Place.” It refers to spaces outside of home and work (one’s first and second places) where friends and strangers can gather unrushed — like cafes, bars, hair salons, dog parks and gyms. In some conceptions, the term refers to places where you don’t have to buy anything to hang out.
Mr. Oldenburg’s coinage filled a linguistic gap — the value of public gathering spaces was well known but there was no term for it. His phrase took hold and remains popular.