More than a coffee shop: Norm's as a Third Place

Special thanks to Kate Rowland for this blog post! Kate is our Norm's/So Shine intern for the fall semester. Kate is a senior at Bethel College with a major in Marketing! We excited for her to learn more about So Shine and what makes Norm's such a great place to be!

***** For fourteen years, Norm’s has been filling the cups of our customers—both literally and

spiritually—by serving as their Third Place. On any given morning, the space overflows with

chatter, laughter, and meaningful conversation between friends and strangers alike. In a society

constantly asking, “What’s next?”, Norm’s chooses to pose a different question, one best stated

by our director, Ashleigh Lakey: “How can we intentionally pause?”

Norm’s embraces the abnormal notion of being “unproductive” by today’s standards. In a

world that measures success through busyness and checking items off your to-do list, Norm’s

invites people to slow down. Here, time isn’t wasted, but shared. People spend time here not only

for coffee, but for connection. They stay for the feeling of being known and accepted, even in the

smallest ways: our smiling staff behind the counter, someone who remembers their regular order,

or a spontaneous conversation that turns into friendship.

Rooted in the concept of the Third Place, where home is the first, work is second, and Norm’s is

a third place for community and human connection- Norm’s goes beyond being just a coffee

shop. It becomes a community hub, a place where everyone can call each other friends, and

where hearts feel at home. The warmth of the space encourages authenticity; people can be as

they are, free from the expectations of who they have to be at work or home.

Here, differences are celebrated, similarities are discovered, and social status disappears

in the presence of genuine connection. Students converse with retirees, business owners find

community with artists, and travelers feel welcome among locals. Norm’s transcends the

divisions that so often separate us, highlighting instead the simple, shared humanity that brings

people together over a cup of coffee.

In a world that rarely slows down, Norm’s is a vital reminder of what it means to belong.

We are proud that community isn’t built through constant motion and digital connection, but

through connection, and meeting people as they are and who they are. At Norm’s, the coffee is

only part of the experience; the true wonder and magic lies in the people who fill the space, day

after day, cup after cup.