The “Third Place”

In the late 80s, sociologist Ray Oldenburg coined a term called “the third place”. The first two places, of course, are your home and your work. Having a “third place”, he proposed, is critical to connect with others, have sun, and share meaningful thoughts.

Since the rise of community based gyms in the early 2000’s, gyms have become the “third place” for remarkably more people than ever. Bars, social clubs, and coffee houses have been mainstays in this way, but since the global shut down from COVID-19 many of the establishments that would qualify as a proper “third place” are closed or only open in modified fashion. 

For the first time ever, we can say almost unequivocally that millions of Americans either have a gym community or no “third place” at all. I don’t know much, but given the choice I’d bet just about anything that Oldenburg would be pumping iron with us. 

Is DEUCE your “third place”?