Community Meetups in Coffee Shops: Rethinking Venue Sourcing Strategy

The choice of venue should be driven by the guest experience, not the status of the building. Using "contextual spaces" like cafes for community meetups isn't a compromise, it’s a strategic decision to prioritize listening and authentic connection over "beton" (concrete) walls.

It started with a message. Someone sent me a link with a comment along the lines of: "Look at this... they are started using a coffee shop for meetups."  The implication was that it was somehow "lesser than" or a budget compromise.

Then I actually opened the post and looked at the gallery.

It was a "Business Sketches" meetup - 30 community members - entrepreneurs and experts sitting in a cozy cafe, deep in a live discussion about financial planning, product testing, and business ideas. The atmosphere wasn't just "fine"; it was inspired.

My first reflection? "So what? Good for them." 

There is absolutely nothing wrong with this. In fact, it’s a perfect example of modern collaboration. Gone are the times when you needed a posh hotel room to prove your community was "serious." Nowadays, it is far more important to hear, listen, observe, and truly know your audience than it is to book a status symbol.

The "Beton" Nonsense

Investing in "beton" (concrete) walls just for the sake of looking formal is nonsense.

From a helicopter view, the role of a venue for a community meetup is to facilitate the guest experience, not to satisfy an ego. A sterile boardroom often creates a hierarchy that kills a lively discussion; a community space like this cafe creates a bridge.

One size/one format not only doesn't fit all, some are already becoming outdated.

Who is judging? If the goal is to create an open environment where participants can ask questions, get feedback, and actually connect, then the coffee shop won. It served the mission.

When choosing a venue, the criteria shouldn't be "How expensive does this look?" but rather "How well does this space allow my audience to be present?"

In my next post, I’ll share more perspective on the actual difference between conference rooms, hotel boardrooms, and co-working locations and how to decide which one fits your mission.

But for now: If the cafe works for the community, use the cafe.

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