Bynx creates a “third place” for the Orlando community
We’ve heard it a thousand times since we opened our doors in 2020. “Why a coffee shop?” I suppose it’s a fair enough question. None of us had any real experience in the coffee industry. It seemed a little left field for those who knew us. But in reality, it wasn’t strange at all. As a family, we’ve always valued community and connection. Opening a coffee shop has given us the chance to connect with an even larger community, in the heart of a city that is growing fast. The relationships we’ve formed since starting Bynx are invaluable. They prove to us we made the right decision in going on this fun, albeit challenging, adventure. We’ve managed to create an environment that brings all kinds of people together. For some, Bynx has become that “third place.” But what is that exactly?
A Necessary Distraction
As coffee newbies, we spent a great deal of time learning about the industry from tenured experts. Early in our studies, a mentor brought up the concept of the “third place.” As he put it, each of us has a home and a job. We spend most of our lives commuting between the two. But, usually, we also have a third place, be it a bar, gym, church, or… a coffee shop!
This third place is often a home away from home, or a distraction from the mundanities of everday life. It usually provides a change of scenery and a chance to join a community. It can also be a safe, chill space to find solitude or work on creative endeavors without things like emails or laundry getting in the way. Visiting our third place is often an important part of maintaining our mental health, especially in a world that moves as fast as ours.
This concept may seem obvious enough, but it wasn’t something I’d ever considered previously. Sure enough, I’d spent most of my life hanging out and playing music in coffee shops. I fondly remember one in particular, on Water Street in St. John’s, Newfoundland — my hometown. In the winters I’d watch snow gently fall on people waking by, while I sat quietly with friends, drinking lattes and reading our books. I never thought about it from the other side; how it must have felt to be the owner of the shop and watch people happily congregate in their space on a daily basis. I surely never thought one day I’d be like that owner myself, watching people come and go all day, getting to be a tiny part of their life.
Home, work and… Bynx?
In the years since we opened our little shop in downtown, Orlando, we’ve been fortunate to witness people make Bynx their third place. Whether they’ve told us outright or we’ve simply observed it in realtime, we’ve seen communities blossom through regular events; we’ve seen sparks fly on first dates; we’ve seen people hone their creativity while jazz quietly plays in the background; we’ve even had weddings happen in our café! These are just some of the countless examples of people who’ve made Bynx their “third place.”
So, if you’re looking for your own third place, visit Bynx! Whether it’s attending one of our awesome events, spending an afternoon tracking in our recording studio, or simply hanging out and enjoying the shop’s atmosphere, Bynx could be your third place too.
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