A Third Place for Everyone
How Fausto Coffee Serves the Community
Essay by Victoria Blake
Photos by Melany Dawn Adams
When I was 15, I became a regular at Fausto Coffee in the heart of downtown Lincolnton. I had started my first job at Hi-Lites, a ladies clothing store that has since closed its doors. I would make my way across town to pick up a coffee for myself, my manager, and a senior coffee for the late Richard Jones, former owner of North State Books. This routine would be the start of my love affair with Fausto. I would let the smell of the coffee gently wake me up, and I loved browsing the flavor board behind the register to choose my drink for the day. The many flavor combinations have been lovingly crafted over the years by baristas and customers alike. One of the earliest, the Foxy Brown, rich caramel and cinnamon with espresso and milk, became my go-to. I didn’t know I would become a barista when I first started this routine, and that along with drinking many Foxy Browns, it would become my third place, somewhere that I couldn’t imagine living without.
A third place is somewhere separate from home and work where people gather and interact with others in their community. Sociologist Ray Oldenburg coined the term in 1989, claiming that people live happier lives when they are connected to such a place. Third places tend to be informal and communal. When I first learned the term “third place,” Fausto immediately came to mind. When you walk in, you see people of all ages and backgrounds talking, working, or simply enjoying a moment of peace. That blend of connection and belonging is at the heart of what makes Fausto so special to many in Lincolnton, myself included.
Before Fausto Coffee became my third place, it simply drew me in as a customer. The products were excellent, and the owners were warm, knowledgeable, and deeply committed to serving the community. Miriah Truluck-Rhodes and Jacob Rhodes bought the shop in 2010, though Fausto’s history goes back to 1995, when Chaffin Rhyne opened it as an extension of his bicycle shop. The name Fausto is a nod to the Italian cyclist, Fausto Coppi.
Over the past 15 years, Miriah and Jacob have worked diligently to create a place where customers can enjoy the highest quality coffee products. They partner with other local businesses when possible, for example, using Lincolnton-based Riverbend Creamery for their milk products. For nearly a decade they have roasted their own beans to ensure their customers have the freshest, most flavorful coffee. Beyond coffee, they also support local artists by displaying original works for sale.
Along with the owners, manager Billie Merritt trains baristas not just in drink preparation but in understanding the entire journey of coffee, from planting to roasting to brewing. Their knowledge is nearly endless, and they share it with customers and staff alike, whether someone needs help selecting a roast to take home, advice on grinding beans, or a recommendation for a unique flavor combination.
But perhaps their most meaningful accomplishment is creating a true third place: somewhere separate from home and work where people from all walks of life can feel connected to their community and be part of something larger than themselves. Every day, you can find students, retirees, parents, workers, and artists sitting side by side, chatting across tables or greeting familiar faces. That natural blend of community is what makes Fausto so loved.
I started working at Fausto in 2019 while I was still in college, and these past seven years have been the best working experience of my life. When I think about Fausto now, I think of the various coffee drinks I’ve learned to make and becoming a coffee roaster. But I also think about the relationships I have made with my customers, my coworkers, and the owners. When I was stuck in New York City, Miriah and Jacob were there and came to my rescue. When I needed to decide which iPad to buy, I was able to ask a customer who had the information I needed. When I wasn’t sure what to do in my relationships or career, there was always a friend waiting at Fausto ready to help guide me. In today’s world, where more pieces of our lives are becoming digital, third places are more than just somewhere to go. They are a place to find meaningful human interaction. You can find what you most ardently need at the time, and you offer that to someone in return.
This August, as Fausto Coffee celebrated its 30th anniversary, I was reminded of how far reaching Fausto’s impact is as a third place in Lincolnton. In celebration, the owners threw a birthday party for the shop, with cake, singing, balloons, and raffle giveaways. Never leaving any type of customer out, there were toys for the littlest customers and tote bags for parents. One customer told me he couldn’t imagine his day without his regular stop at Fausto Coffee, that it had meant the world to him over the past 15 years.
Seeing how Fausto has grown into more than a coffee shop, it has become a beloved third place for many, where customers cherish the community and conversation as much as the coffee itself, was a truly remarkable image that I hope to remember forever.
Victoria Blake is a local writer, barista, and teacher in Lincoln County.