As part of the vision of developer Ron Sher, Third Place Books opened in Lake Forest Park's Towne Center in November 1998, offering visitors what sociologist Ray Oldenburg calls a "third place." After home, school or work, a third place gives people an opportunity to interact with others in the community who come from a wide variety of backgrounds.
In the store, customers can peruse nearly 200,000 new and used books, pick from 500 magazine titles, purchase six different newspapers and buy gifts and calendars. Third Place Commons, which is adjacent to the bookstore, features five restaurants and tables where people can eat, meet or relax and enjoy musical performances and other live entertainment, as well as hear from their favorite authors. Book events also take place within the bookstore. In addition, visitors can take advantage of free Wi-Fi for work or play.