Celebrating the Third Place: Inspiring Stories About the Great Good Places at the Heart of Our Communities

“There are no strangers here, just friends who haven’t met,”

New Urbanism movement.

“Our culture has been changed significantly by the automobile, allowing people to live far from their communities; and to a lesser extent by zoning laws and building codes that have emptied our downtowns of residents.

The atmosphere, both physical and social, is the trickiest and most essential part of creating a warm and welcoming third place. Both need constant attention and periodic tweaking. Both show signs of neglect and fatigue immediately

When you walk through the door, you are likely to see one of the groups that use the facility. Reading discussion groups, writing groups, children’s story hour groups, Toastmasters, and others regularly meet in the hundred-seat Horizon Shine Café at no charge.

We have discovered that our attitudes are transparent and have a very powerful effect on the feel and impression of the business and physical space.

That commitment to community impressed me, and made me more committed.”

Through the chess set, free entertainment, a magazine stand, and a variety of community events, we make a conscious effort to send out the message to our customers that they are welcome.

Vitality is an essential element in attracting customers to a shopping center, and it’s also a very important characteristic of a third place. Clearly, the most important ingredient of vitality is the presence of people.