Lisa Slattery Walker provides expertise on Charlotte’s emerging line culture
Lisa Slattery Walker, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Sociology, contributed expertise to the Axios Charlotte article “Charlotte’s lines are becoming a third place of their own.”
Crowds in Charlotte gather for buzzy national brands like Maman and PopUp Bagels and for local favorites like Brü. For many, the appeal goes beyond pastries or coffee. Axios readers describe their long waits as moments of connection, nostalgia or small luxury, and these queues increasingly function as third places where people find community.
Walker explains that shared anticipation in a line can create “collective effervescence,” which is a “temporary micro‑community” where strangers connect over a common goal. She also points to social proof as playing an important role in line culture. When people see others willing to wait, it signals that the experience is valuable and draws even more interest.