Whether it’s a quick meal, late night study session or socializing with friends, fast food restaurants can provide small meaningful moments to cherish.
Kari Vogelgesang, a clinical associate professor at the University of Iowa, defines “third spaces” as the places outside home and school or work where people gather, linger and connect. Fast food restaurants are readily accessible and affordable, making them prime third spaces for financially struggling college students.
“You can spend a lot of time there, and there’s no expectations,” said Rebecca Stafford, a freshman majoring in mechanical engineering. “When you are younger, it’s an easy place to hang out.”
Instead of just eating, interactions within these restaurants enhance the typical mundane fast-food experience, becoming meeting points for socialization and giving people a low stakes location to see each other and converse.
“I think the nice thing about restaurants is that if you are with someone, especially if you don’t know them well, you can ask them to get food real quick,” Stafford said.
Closing times of these restaurants, such as Waffle House and Whataburger, often filter into the late evening, allowing people to stay as long as they please. The leisurely atmosphere makes eating secondary to the purpose of getting together, prompting customers to feel less rushed in their dining experience.
“It’s not a high pressure thing, and you can leave whenever,” said Lindsay Etheridge, a freshman studying computer science.
The owners of these restaurants also see the benefits of their locations for students. Tim Wilson, franchise owner of McDonald’s in the Birmingham area, said his locations typically see a rise in students after school, during the evenings and “especially on weekends.”
Although some like to study in silence, the ambience of fast food restaurants is appealing to many. The buzzing chatter of customers and ringing of registers is loud by nature, yet the noisy environment still invites many to stay due to its familiarity.
“While the atmosphere is different, fast food restaurants like McDonald’s provide many of the same benefits like seating, Wi-Fi, affordability and a casual environment,” Wilson said.
Students may also linger after completing a meal, enjoying the company of others, or even becoming more productive by accomplishing small tasks.
Restaurants become a place where every person can create memories, developing comfort for customers. Wilson says these meaningful moments become positive experiences for students, which help promote the popularity of third spaces.
“There’s no requirement to make a large purchase, and people from different backgrounds can sit together comfortably,” Wilson said. “It allows young people to interact face-to-face, whether that’s hanging out, celebrating small milestones or just spending downtime together.”
Fast food restaurants differ in comparison to the formality of a traditional dining experience, with the fast-paced cuisine contrasting the extended stay of a sit down restaurant.
“Everyone likes to eat. It’s kind of something that everybody can do,” Etheridge said. “Fast food is typically easy and it’s cheaper, so especially as a college student, that’s a good way to bond with people.”
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