Background

Inspired by “The Great Good Place,” Ron Sher sought to create a place where community could gather and businesses could thrive. He found space in an under-used shopping center surrounded by acres of empty parking lots. Third Place Books opened its doors in 1998, when many independent bookstores across the country were closing theirs.

Third Place Books and Third Place Commons — a common area full of tables, chairs, a stage and performance area, restaurants and an adjoining community college — were immediately embraced by the community and deemed the heart of Lake Forest Park. The bookstore established a loyal customer base, authors and publishers added Third Place to their list of favorite venues, and the Commons buzzed day and night with conversation, food, coffee, bridge games, school performances, readings and live entertainment.

While Third Place Books enjoyed its warm reception, it quickly became evident that bookstore staff could not be both booksellers and community hosts. At the urging of Anne Stadler, a Lake Forest Park resident whose vision and energy matched Ron‘s, Friends of Third Place Commons was born in 1999 to manage the multitude of community events in the Commons. The nonprofit organization is led by a board of directors representing the city, the arts, seniors, business, schools, library, health care, and residents.

Friends of Third Place Commons is an integral member of the community. Over 1200 free events take place in the Commons every year. In addition to scheduled events, people come to chat, celebrate, eat a meal, linger, or study. Friends opened the Lake Forest Park Farmers Market in 2005 that, again, demonstrated the support of the community. Third Place is a model of the potential of public-private partnerships and the role they must play in a civil society.

More . . .

Seattle Times' Pacific Northwest magazine profiled Ron Sher in an article in early November, 2003: Community Builder: In Ron Sher's 'third places', people come first.