ABSTRACT

Chapter 8 includes eight case studies examining coffee shops and cafés from four different countries. The authors of the case studies are all interior designers or architects who value the role of place in our lives. They share stories from their favorite third places and offer insights into what makes them inviting and essential community gathering places. Many common themes run through these studies. They have all been around for many years, have a strong following of regular patrons, and many patrons and staff rely on the coffee shop or café for part of their social sustenance. The studies provide a snapshot in time of the value of third places to people and communities.