Retailing and Third Places

Third places are not home or work (first and second place). They are public places that host the regular, voluntary, informal, and happily anticipated gatherings of individuals beyond the realm of home and work, in which social capital may be realized and applied (Oldenburg, 1999). In retailing, they are typically found in coffee shops and cafes. Since its inception, the concept has attracted further interest and broadened to include virtual places and their use for different demographic and social groups.