Communities hurt by iconic ice cream, fast-food chain closing
The shutdowns are part of a much bigger problem that goes well beyond a restaurant closing down.
Starbucks's Howard Schultz made the term "third place" part of the national vocabulary. As he built out the coffee chain, he wanted it to be someplace people could spend time in when they were not at work or home.
The third place has a deep tradition in Europe, whether they be Italy's coffee shops or England's pubs.
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People need a place to come together where they can relax, connect with friends and build community. A third place, especially in a smaller community, becomes a kind of de facto community center.
In the small town where I grew up, Swampscott, Mass., the local Dunkin' has served as the center of the community for decades. If you can find a a parking space, you will enter a store where old-timers have occupied the same tables since the dawn of time and younger folks drop in to pay their respects (and grab an iced coffee).
