How Costco became a 'third place'
-
C'mon guys, all together now: "GET OFF MY LAWN!!"
So it's 1980. People meet in person, right? At school, at work, at church? If you had told me back then that I would have a bunch of online friends whom I've never met and that I've been part of the group for nearly 20 years, I would have thought you were crazy. And that some of us would meet and marry, having first met online? Fantasy world!
For a bunch of a different reasons, you couldn't drag me to a shopping mall, a Taylor Swift concert, or a Star Trek convention, but clearly a lot of people find those venues inviting, and I think that's great. They've found their comfy places to land, to be with people who share their interests. Costco nerds are just another flavor of that.
This thread has gotten into what we like/don't like about Costco and the bigger point that's being missed is recognizing that we human beings continue to find new ways to connect with each other. Costco is just one example. Not a terribly important one, but just another way. And it may not be yours.
It's not that complicated.
If you had told me back then that I would have a bunch of online friends whom I've never met and that I've been part of the group for nearly 20 years, I would have thought you were crazy.
Oh absolutely!!
the bigger point that's being missed is recognizing that we human beings continue to find new ways to connect with each other. Costco is just one example.
I'm beginning to think that no one read the article....
I actually did read the article, when you first posted it. And when I posted that it seems sad that malls are being replaced by Costco (which looks like a warehouse), I wrote that based on reading the article, and also based on the fact that "cozy spaces" seem to be being replaced with cold, metal and concrete spaces. That might be a "get off my lawn" take, but it is most definitely an aesthetic take. (Which is why I mentioned the gray trend).
But back to your larger point... In fact, I think a lot of us humans (self included) are having a harder and harder time finding ways to connect with each other. For those who do manage to connect, whether it's at Costco or somewhere else, great! For the rest of us.... Well at least we still have WTF!
-
If you had told me back then that I would have a bunch of online friends whom I've never met and that I've been part of the group for nearly 20 years, I would have thought you were crazy.
Oh absolutely!!
the bigger point that's being missed is recognizing that we human beings continue to find new ways to connect with each other. Costco is just one example.
I'm beginning to think that no one read the article....
I actually did read the article, when you first posted it. And when I posted that it seems sad that malls are being replaced by Costco (which looks like a warehouse), I wrote that based on reading the article, and also based on the fact that "cozy spaces" seem to be being replaced with cold, metal and concrete spaces. That might be a "get off my lawn" take, but it is most definitely an aesthetic take. (Which is why I mentioned the gray trend).
But back to your larger point... In fact, I think a lot of us humans (self included) are having a harder and harder time finding ways to connect with each other. For those who do manage to connect, whether it's at Costco or somewhere else, great! For the rest of us.... Well at least we still have WTF!
but it is most definitely an aesthetic take
No one I know goes to McDonald's for the food, coffee, or atmosphere.
We have a friend who goes to McDonald's every day for a gathering with a bunch of buddies. Every day at 10 and they're there till noon. During COVID they would sit outside on the benches.
In the olden days, it would have been a group of women and it would have been called a "coffee klatch".
It's all about the people.
-
but it is most definitely an aesthetic take
No one I know goes to McDonald's for the food, coffee, or atmosphere.
We have a friend who goes to McDonald's every day for a gathering with a bunch of buddies. Every day at 10 and they're there till noon. During COVID they would sit outside on the benches.
In the olden days, it would have been a group of women and it would have been called a "coffee klatch".
It's all about the people.
It's all about the people.
I want to agree with this, but at the same time, it's also about the acoustics! I can't stand trying to talk to someone where there are bad acoustics, and industrial design is always noisy. (I don't have anything to say about McDonalds because I haven't been inside a McDonalds in many, many years).
But having said that, if there was some place I could go to find people to connect with, chat, make some new IRL friends... well that would be wonderful.
-
When we moved downtown, we decided to choose bar seating when we went out to eat. (pretty common dinner choice) We have met a very interesting mix of people - both local 'bar rats' as well as the people in town for conventions and other events. Getting to know the bartenders and other staff has benefits too.. Yes, community is where you find or create it!
We have a number of places within a 10 minute walk and if we need more steps that day there are way more worth the walk a little farther away.
-
but it is most definitely an aesthetic take
No one I know goes to McDonald's for the food, coffee, or atmosphere.
We have a friend who goes to McDonald's every day for a gathering with a bunch of buddies. Every day at 10 and they're there till noon. During COVID they would sit outside on the benches.
In the olden days, it would have been a group of women and it would have been called a "coffee klatch".
It's all about the people.
sorry, I have to disagree.
I used to go to McDonald’s for the coffee. Two reasons. 1- I have no taste in coffee. 2- they used to have a senior discount at a dollar a cup.
I would never do anything foolish like speak to any human beings there, but I would grab my one dollar coffee and go for a nice walk…
edit- and no, there’s no real point in me posting this other than to be annoying…
-
Since I participated in the thread drift and I'm sorry about that, I have now read the article.
I think the article's point that people are starving for a place to be together is completely valid. The stories of people who have found community and love are touching, and I totally support people finding ways to connect. Some people find that at Costco. Some people find it at the stalwart malls that are still limping along. (We have one of those about five minutes from the house, which is even a teeny bit closer than Costco.) Whatever works!
My father and his friends used to get breakfast at a local burger chain, and I've known other people that had the same setup at McDonald's. I find fast food places marginally more welcoming than Costco's food court, although it occurs to me that they may vary by location. Our Costco's food court is very crowded and loud. Places like McDonald's are a little better laid out for dinner table conversation.
Coffee shops are nice. I can walk to several from the house, and I frequently meet friends there. It would be nice to be able to go there as a regular and chat with people as they come in, but I don't sense that happens often.
There's also an independent bookstore a short walk from here, and I've attended events and led the mystery book group there. I had coffee later with one of the book group members but, again, it was arranged and not that "third place" kind of thing where you hang out and talk to the people who show up. I wonder if many people have access to that kind of place these days. The article makes me think they probably don't.
Hello! It looks like you're interested in this conversation, but you don't have an account yet.
Getting fed up of having to scroll through the same posts each visit? When you register for an account, you'll always come back to exactly where you were before, and choose to be notified of new replies (either via email, or push notification). You'll also be able to save bookmarks and upvote posts to show your appreciation to other community members.
With your input, this post could be even better 💗
Register Login