After years of video calls, remote work and digital interactions replacing everyday encounters, many people are searching for something technology can’t provide: opportunities to connect in person. Bookstores, coffee shops, libraries and other gathering spaces are serving a purpose beyond commerce: they’re becoming modern-day hubs where people gather, learn and build relationships.
Sociologist Ray Oldenburg coined the term “third place” to describe public spaces that exist outside of the home and workplace. Those who run many of these third places have noted the importance of their business in the community, and have been intentional in shaping new chances for people to gather.
Julie Walsh is the co-owner of Book and Bloom in Broken Arrow, along with her business partner Cassie Imel. She says the bookstore/floral shop has hosted bookclubs, workshops, author events and trivia nights.
“One of my favorite things about our bookclubs,” says Walsh, “is that they often bring together multiple generations and diverse voices. Having readers of different ages and life experiences creates richer, more thoughtful conversations and allows people to see a story from perspectives they may not have considered before Encouraging customers to stay, gather and connect has helped us build relationships that go far beyond the typical retail transaction. Over time, many of our customers develop genuine connections with the people who work in the store, and the experience begins to feel less like ‘going shopping’ and more like ‘stopping by a friend’s house.’”
One of the most accessible third place concepts is the local library. The Tulsa City-Country Library, for example, offers everything from summer reading programs to weekly storytimes, STEM challenges, educational presentations, maker spaces and career building resources.
Another longtime third place and community hub is Elemental Coffee in Oklahoma City. According to co-owner Lindsey Watz, the coffee house has hosted pour downs, dog adoptions, weddings and concerts. Since the pandemic, Watz notes that visitors have become “more intentional with their meetings, but often still have meet cutes, which is fun to watch how communities of different people meet and crossover.”
Watz believes spaces like Elemental Coffee continue to grow in importance because people are seeking places to “connect and bond with others. Being able to provide a safe space benefits the whole community.”
According to the U.S. Surgeon General, Watz is definitely onto something, as loneliness has been identified as a growing public health concern. While technology has helped many maintain relationships, it is much less effective at building new ones. That’s the difference between connections and community. Digital platforms help people stay in touch with existing relationships, while third places create opportunities to form new relationships with neighbors, coworkers and strangers who share the same space.
Community is far better served by these third spaces. As an example, Book and Bloom recently hosted a club gathering with zero entry fee. According to Walsh, strangers “started by just randomly coming to a free bookclub, and now they hang out outside of the store.”
As communities continue balancing digital convenience with the need for human connection, Oklahoma’s bookstores, coffee shops and libraries are proving that sometimes the most meaningful interactions begin by simply sharing the same room.
