Can You Make Friends in Dayton Without Going to a Bar?

Riley Howell | Assistant Editor-in-Chief

For college students and young adults, making friends often becomes more difficult once they leave the built-in social environments of classrooms, residence halls and campus organizations.

Work can provide another social circle, but not everyone wants their coworkers to become their entire social life. Bars and nightlife venues are common gathering places, yet they exclude those under 21 and may not appeal to people who do not drink.

That leaves a surprisingly difficult question: Where can someone go in Dayton and realistically meet other people?

Sociologist Ray Oldenburg coined the term “third place” to describe informal gathering spaces outside the two places that tend to dominate everyday life: home and work. Coffee shops, bookstores, parks, recreation centers and other familiar hangouts can all serve this purpose.

Dayton may not have an obvious central gathering place for young adults, but several local businesses are attempting to create community through art, games and shared activities.

MADE Studio & Shop, located on Wayne Avenue, offers pottery, sewing, fiber arts and other creative workshops. The studio also offers memberships and recurring sessions for people interested in developing their skills alongside other local artists.

“What makes a community studio special is the opportunity to connect with others over a shared interest,” the studio said. 

That philosophy carries into MADE’s Member Skill Sessions, which allow participants to regularly work on their pottery skills with the same group of people. “The underlying goal in these sessions was to get people together consistently so they can start forming connections with each other,” the studio said.

That consistency can also make it less intimidating to walk into a class alone, especially when it seems as though everyone else might already know one another. MADE said it sometimes hears from people who were nervous to register without bringing a friend, but some classes have gone on to create group chats where participants share photos of their completed pieces and make plans to attend future workshops together.

“We’ve attended birthday parties and celebrations from our students and members because of the relationships we’ve built through the studio,” MADE said.

Activity-based spaces may even make meeting people easier because they remove some of the pressure to immediately carry a conversation. Visitors already have a reason to be there, something to work on and at least one interest in common. This can be especially important for young adults navigating college, graduation, relocation, or other periods of change.

“College students and young adults are in a very transitional time in their lives, and it’s easy to feel isolated during those changes,” the studio said. “Having places where people can gather without the pressure of work, school or home gives them a chance to slow down, learn something new and connect with others.”

MADE is not the only Dayton-area location offering people a way to connect outside traditional nightlife.

For those who prefer a quieter setting, Gem City Catfé, located in the St. Anne’s Hill neighborhood, combines a coffee shop with a separate lounge featuring adoptable cats. Its upstairs art gallery includes tables and seating for working, meeting friends, classes and workshops. The Catfé has also hosted events such as trivia, yoga, writing workshops and Dungeons & Dragons.

For people who enjoy a more active environment, Urban Krag Climbing Center operates inside a converted church in Dayton’s Oregon District. Shared activities such as climbing can make interaction feel more natural, particularly for visitors who might feel uncomfortable approaching strangers in a traditional café or public space.

Others may find it easier to connect over a shared hobby, and Epic Loot Games in Centerville offers tabletop games and a dedicated area for customers to play them. Its recurring events give visitors an opportunity to encounter the same people regularly instead of hoping to form an immediate connection during a single visit.

Creative spaces also provide opportunities for connection. Front Street Art Studios & Galleries brings together local artists, galleries, shops and small businesses. Its monthly Art Hops allow visitors to explore the campus, watch demonstrations, listen to live music and interact directly with artists.

These businesses do not all fit the traditional image of a third place. Some activities require registration, equipment or money, while the most accessible gathering spaces generally allow people to arrive without a plan and stay without pressure.

Still, a shared activity can address one of the most uncomfortable parts of meeting someone new: finding a reason to begin talking.

No studio, catfé or climbing gym can guarantee that someone will leave with a new best friend. Creating community rarely happens in a single visit. It often requires returning regularly, recognizing familiar faces, building familiarity over time and being willing to show up alone. 

Dayton may not need one perfect gathering place where everyone belongs, but simply, more places where arriving alone feels normal.