Do you have a third place around Asheville? Take a moment to reflect. Besides your home (first space) and workplace (second space), where do you go throughout the week? Whose faces do you see and who do you talk to when you go there? Is the vibe at this space easy? Do you look forward to going and feel welcome?
If you could easily picture this space + answered “yes” to the ease of the gathering, congratulations — you’ve found a third place in your community. If you couldn’t, that’s okay. We’ll give you some ideas for finding one around Asheville.
What is a third place?
Ray Oldenburg, sociologist and author of “The Great Good Place,” shares that third places — public, informal gathering spaces that you frequent in your community (think: coffee shops, parks, libraries, bookstores, salons... etc.) — are important for many reasons, but particularly for promoting social vitality + a sense of community.
Good things come in threes
These spaces can take many forms, but we’ve gathered just a few to get you started on your search.
The Nerd Dungeon, 505 New Leicester Hwy.
This safe space is here for all nerds to come together for events like Super Smash Bros and Yu-Gi-Oh! tournaments or tabletop role-playing games. Plus, Elder Dragon Coffee is inside, so you can sip a drink while playing games or relaxing with friends.
Wagbar, 320 Merrimon Ave.
If you and your four-legged pal are a package deal, the social vibe of this off-leash dog park and bar combo makes it a perfect third place.
Asheville Community Yoga, 8 Brookdale Rd.
Whether you’re new to the practice or an experienced yogi, this is a great spot to find some zen in a warm, welcoming environment. Pro tip: All of the yoga studios in our city would make a great third place.
Harvest Records, 415 Haywood Rd., Ste. B
Connect with the community while browsing records and talking tunes.
If you need more third place inspiration — our followers shared some of the spaces around Asheville where they’ve found their communities.
