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or some running shops, the phrase “third place” has nothing to do with – in typical runner parlance – a bronze medal. Rather, “third place” characterizes the running shop’s aims to be a community gathering spot and a complement to one’s home – the “first place” – and work – the “second place.”

From public libraries, churches and social clubs to barbershops and bars – and taken to the next level in the public’s consciousness by Starbucks –  third places have a long-established presence in American life. They host lively conversations, celebrations, negotiations, dates, debate and more.

A few running shops have dialed up their own “third place” vibe, investing in elements like craft beer, premium coffee, free Wi-Fi, comfortable seating and serene outdoor spaces to encourage customers to come together, linger and frequently return. These four have taken the concept to an even higher level.

Shoes & Brews
Established 2014

Shoes & Brews is a pioneer among running shops actively and intentionally aiming to hit the third-place target. The Longmont, CO-based business co-founded by three former Colorado State University runners blends a full-service, 20-tap brewpub with a full-service run specialty shop. A glass wall separates the brews from the shoes.

“Two passions under one roof,” as Shoes & Brews co-founder Ashlee Anderson explains.

When Shoes & Brews launched a dozen years ago, Anderson and her co-founders hoped the brewpub would make money. They assumed the brewpub would serve as a gathering spot following a group run from the store, which it most certainly has. However, they did not anticipate the brewpub becoming a popular watering hole with its own clientele seven days a week.

“We were surprised to see the brews side could be its own business and capture its own customers,” Anderson says.

The brewpub’s casual, family-friendly vibe makes it a hit with locals and customers regularly crossover to the shoes side. The running store has gained customers it never would have gotten if not for the brews component, Anderson says, and customers who pop in for a craft beer routinely grab some energy gels for their weekend run or investigate cold-weather gear when the weather turns.

“We see our customers, especially our loyal ones, a lot,” Anderson says. “We’re not just seeing them every six months when they need new running shoes. They’re here often to try a new beer or meet a friend.”

BackRoads Brews + Shoes
Established 2017

A talented runner who loved beer, Aaron Hendrikx opened BackRoads Brews + Shoes in London, Ontario, in 2017. It’s a simple, albeit ambitious concept: a traditional run specialty store up front with a taproom in the back serving up beer, wine, kombucha, coffee and more with a heavy emphasis on local products.

In May, Hendrikx oversaw the opening of a second BackRoads in Kitchener, Ontario, about 60 miles northeast of London. While BackRoads’ London shop carries a more rustic feel and the new Kitchener store feels more refined and modern, both locations embrace the same third-place goal with indoor and outdoor seating for guests.

“People are floored by the idea. They come in for shoes or nutrition and they stay for a beer or a latte,” BackRoads community engagement manager Scott Goodyear says.

As Goodyear talks from the London store on a Tuesday morning in October, he points to a regular customer sitting on his computer in the corner, a group of business colleagues meeting in front of him and members of the store’s walking club sitting to his side and “shooting the breeze.” He says BackRoads will welcome afternoon customers seeking a mid-day pick-me-up – the shop’s exclusive Runner’s Medium from O-Joe Coffee is a particular favorite – before an evening crowd fills the space for events like trivia, live music or book club.

At both BackRoads locations, the bar functions as a common checkout point ringing up purchases of running gear or a beverage. Goodyear says that’s an intentional move to introduce guests of the running store to BackRoads’ unexpected taproom.

Neighbor Running
Established 2025

Kevin Meehan calls his 800-square-foot running shop in Hudson, NY, “a pillbox,” which made his hunt for additional space that much more imperative.

When Meehan looked in the back of his shop, he saw an intimate garden in need of some tending. He also saw an opportunity to build something unique for Neighbor Running in his historic, waterfront city in upstate New York. Fortunately, Meehan’s open-minded landlord gave him permission to tidy up the outdoor space.

This past spring, Meehan teamed with hylo athletics and Silver Botanic to reinvent the garden area and create an inviting destination for Neighbor Running guests. The cozy garden features a mix of materials hylo uses in its footwear, including corn, castor bean, sugarcane and rubber among them, as well as medicinal plants specifically chosen to support athlete recovery, endurance and balance, such goji berry, mint, lemon balm, chia and chamomile.

“Neighbors have even come by to cut back some leaves and harvest some herbs,” Meehan says.

An intimate space able to hold about 15 people, the garden is open during business hours and also hosts community gatherings every Friday night, from demo runs to bocce ball to adult beverages. Meehan, meanwhile, regularly pumps up the garden on social media to let customers know they have a peaceful spot to meet a friend or tackle some work.

“I’m trying to build a model for small-town America,” Meehan says.

St. Pete Running Company & Coffee
Established 2026

More than a decade after opening St. Pete Running Company in St. Petersburg, FL, Cody and Janna Angell were ready to open a second location. This one, however, would carry a twist and lean into the couple’s robust enthusiasm for coffee.

“We had customers coming in early to group runs and staying late, and we were looking for a deeper way to engage with the community ourselves,” Cody Angell says. “So, we thought, ‘Let’s put in a cafe and give them a reason to hang out.’”

Earlier this year, the Angells opened St. Pete Running Company & Coffee on the west side of the Pinellas Peninsula, about 20 minutes away from their retail flagship. The couple describes their new shop as a place “where performance meets community and caffeine.”

Janna Angell designed the skinny storefront on a pedestrian-friendly street. The shop carries a simple, clean aesthetic with white walls and counters balanced with natural wood tones. Running gear, including the shoe wall, runs along one side of the space. Opposite that resides a long bar with seating. There’s additional seating with a long bar at the window as well as patio tables.

Cody Angell says he and his wife went all-in on coffee. From the equipment to the beans to the ceramics, everything is first-class.

“If this was only a café, it would hold its weight on that alone,” he says.

While the new location took time to gain traction following its January 2026 opening, the Angells are now watching it grow before their eyes. Runners visit the shop in their work clothes for a coffee or to have a post-workout chill session with training partners.

“We’re becoming a place they want to be,” Cody Angell says.