San Francisco has undoubtedly been hit hard by the pandemic: tech companies have left offices empty as they shift to remote work and subsequent layoffs, while major retail stores have closed and the city center has looked eerily deserted.
But San Francisco has made a comeback, becoming the epicenter of the AI boom.
Major companies that have adopted hybrid work models, such as OpenAI and Anthropic, are headquartered in the city, accelerator programs like YCombinator have returned to in-person programming, and new startups are locating in Hayes Valley, the tech industry’s “brain valley.”
As cities embrace a more in-person culture, techies are gravitating toward “third places” to meet like-minded people, exchange ideas, and build community.
“Third places” is a term coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg in the late 1980s to describe community spaces separate from home (the “first place”) and work (the “second place”). In “third places,” like cafes and libraries, community is fostered through casual, natural conversation.
Here are five “third places” where San Francisco’s founders, venture capitalists, and tech workers congregate.
1st floor
1st floor Sri Mpidi
Founded in 2021, Groundfloor is a bright community space located in the heart of San Francisco’s Mission District. The flagship store’s entrance is unassuming at first, but upon swiping through, members are greeted by a cheery community manager.
During the day, members work here: When I visited, long tables were strewn with laptops and notebooks, couples were huddled in lounge chairs, and virtual meetings were taking place in phone booths.
Ground Floor attracts a diverse range of members, said Shawn Ang, Ground Floor’s community manager, many of whom work in tech or remote jobs, but also some who are new to the city and looking to build a community and roots.
“There are a lot of solopreneurs and first-time founders who are looking for community on a journey that can be very isolated,” Ang said.
Elizabeth Young is a freelance marketing consultant who joined Ground Floor after visiting a friend during the pandemic after three years of working from home.
“I really enjoy getting out of the house and spending time with people while I work,” she says. “It’s fun to have casual conversations during the day.”
The space will also serve as a social hub: Ground Floor members pay $200 per month and have access to wellness classes, curated introductions for members, and social events like concerts, game nights and lectures through a member-led social club, according to the company’s website.
Commons
Commons Sri Mpidi
The Commons is tucked away in a basement in Hayes Valley, and according to its website, it’s “a close-knit community for curious, creative, and playful people to explore and grow together.” The space includes a café and kitchen, yoga and meditation studio, workspaces, and other lounge areas.
According to the community blog, members join the community through an orientation program and are invited to join “guilds,” which are groups of members with a common interest. The Commons categorizes these guilds into four groups: Explorers, Builders, Seekers, and Artists. Members are encouraged to meet with their guilds weekly for check-ins.
Other initiatives hosted at the Commons include guided internships, where members participate in sessions focused on specific areas of development, such as creativity or relationships. Beyond the guilds and internships, members can also attend community-wide events or simply hang out in the space.
“When I moved to San Francisco, I joined the Commons in hopes of meeting people there,” said Max Wolf, an engineer at blockchain-based asset management company Superstate. “I use it mostly as a co-working space during the week, and sometimes on Friday nights when I don’t have anything planned, I’ll just pop in to see who’s there and hang out for a while.”
Non-members are welcome to attend a variety of public events hosted by The Commons. For example, on Sunday mornings the space fills up for Writing Club. After a brief introduction and check-in, participants write silently for an hour, then share their writing with others around a table. In the session I attended, participants wrote improvisational jokes, AI blog posts, and dystopian short stories.
Center SF
Center SF Center SF
Center SF is a community hub housed in a large Victorian building. Entering from the side of the building, visitors are greeted by a cozy teahouse and lounge space. Rooms on either side of the main café space host yoga classes and events, including meditation, sound baths, and improvisation classes.
“Center SF is a community hub in the heart of San Francisco dedicated to personal, spiritual and social transformation,” said co-owner Zach Wexler Veron.
The community brings together a diverse range of people, he says, including “founders, engineers, yogis, artists, healers, and people looking for authentic connection and a sense of community.”
When I visited The Center SF, I was surprised at how easy it was to connect with others in the space. After my yoga class, I found myself chatting with my yoga teacher as I walked to my car.
Shack 15
Shack15 at the Ferry Building Sri Mpidi
Founded in 2020, Shack15 is a social club “for 2,000 entrepreneurs, innovators and investors” located on the second floor of San Francisco’s Ferry Building, according to the company’s website.
Large windows offer panoramic views of San Francisco Bay, and the spacious space is filled with tables, lounge chairs and sofas where members can hold meetings, type on laptops or enjoy a glass of wine from the community bar.
According to the company’s website, Shack15 hosts fireside chats and panels on a variety of topics, and members can also use the space to host private events — venture capital firms, for example, have used Shack15 to hold meetings and dinners.
The company also has an angel fund that invests in AI and deep tech startups, according to its website. Shack15 allocates capital to its members-only angel syndicate.
Membership costs $2,000 a year, according to the San Francisco Standard.
Noise Bridge
Noise Bridge Noise Bridge
Noisebridge is a hackerspace in San Francisco’s Mission District. Visitors enter through a metal gate and then through a roll-up door or front door. When I visited, there were “ushers” stationed by the gate to guide visitors.
According to the company’s website, Noisebridge is a “welcoming physical space that is open to all.” The space “provides infrastructure and collaboration opportunities for anyone interested in programming, hardware, crafts, science, robotics, art, and technology.”
As we walked through the space, it was clear to see people working with specialist equipment: laser cutters, 3D printers and even a sewing studio.
Access to the space is free, but frequent visitors are asked to make a donation. Community Space is fully funded through donations.
