Josh Rossmeisl is a self-described “hospitality lifer.”
At 16 years old, Rossmeisl started out in the industry by washing dishes and prepping food at Boston Market. He worked his way through leadership positions at several restaurants before taking a leap of faith into the emerging “eatertainment” world in 2006.
Rossmeisl recently founded Amp Up1 Hospitality Group, under which he’s rolling out the first location of Your 3rd Spot in October at The Works in Atlanta’s Upper Westside. The concept is centered around helping people — especially young transplants who relocated during the pandemic — make friends over games, drinks and food by matching them with others through an app.
The model leans into the concept of a “third place,” a term often used by sociologists and urban planners when describing where people spend time outside of their homes and workplaces. Rossmeisl plans to expand with other locations in Atlanta and other cities such as Raleigh and Nashville.
What is the purpose of Your 3rd Spot? Your 3rd Spot is not just a venue with great food, drinks and 75 different experiences. Its nucleus is around connecting people. We have invested heavily in a proprietary platform that connects people in our building on our app. In today’s world, especially post-pandemic, people need to meet other people but they don’t know how to do it. We have a building designed around this, and the idea that people are the attraction.
How did you come up with the vision for your business? I drafted the “dream team” of the best people in the industry, and we focused on the future. While working in and building entertainment venues for 17 years, we learned a thing or two. We realized all the concepts are built around activities and not people. We knew this was our chance to do something different. People crave novelty.
Why is the concept of a “third place” so important? We hear all the time from people, ‘I love my job, make lots of money and have a nice place to live. But I don’t know how to meet people.’ Younger generations revert to dating apps when they just want to meet a friend, neighbor, someone to network with or just someone to play darts with. Your first place is home. Your second place is work. [This place] is your third spot. [The name for the concept] was inspired by Ray Oldenberg‘s book “The Great Good Place,” where he analyzed the best cities and towns in America. He wrote that of the ones that were thriving, the correlation was having a “third place” where you meet people in the community.
Where is the demand stemming from? Dining out isn’t a novelty anymore. People want to be entertained. Apartments are smaller and more compact, so people want a place to meet up with friends with things to do. With people working remotely, leaders are looking for central meeting places to team-build and have employees share experiences. For two years, people were told to stay away from other people. Now, the floodgates are opening and people are craving connections.
Who was your biggest influence in your career? I have worked alongside the most talented people for the last several decades, such as Erin Callahan, Doug Warner, Christopher Barrows, Aaron Sagendorf and others. We all started together many years ago and have grown as a team. When you hear the expression, “You run your fastest mile with fast runners,” this is that team of marathon pros.
What’s the most rewarding part of your job? Seeing the growth of our team. We root for the underdog and invest heavily in people. Watching someone walk through our doors transform into a great leader or innovator is the best. I’ve had the honor of leading thousands of amazing folks over the years, and there are so many today that are doing great things.
What’s the hardest business lesson you’ve learned? You have to let go so you can grow. Opening multiple places, leading big teams and projects, and juggling so many projects, you will burn out if you’re not willing to give up what you have mastered and pass it on to others. You have to trust your team and support them. They’re capable of more than you realize. The only way I can innovate is to give up what I am doing today and focus on the future.
How do you differentiate your business from other “third places” like breweries or coffee shops? Games, sharable small plates, different experiences, and we are a 21-plus place where adults can go. Coffee shops used to be a third spot but now they are just a place to get coffee. They’re too crowded and less focused on people connecting. We wanted a place that was spacious, fun and had many points of connection built in by design, with natural ice breakers and plenty of “social lubricant.”
Why did you choose The Works as the first location? We looked in five states and over 40 locations. Atlanta is growing and thriving. It has a young, diverse, dense base of amazing people who love entertainment. We look for cities with large groups of people relocating there, as this serves our purpose of connecting people and building community. The Selig family’s vision for The Works was special. They are doing something truly remarkable, and I admire how committed they are to curating tenants. Any time you build a prototype of anything, you need people who are creative and supportive.
Josh Rossmeisl
Born in: Holyoke, Massachusetts
Lives in: Underwood Hills neighborhood
Age: 43
Current job: CEO, AMP Up1 Hospitality; founder and general manager, Your 3rd Spot
Previous job: Chief operating officer, Kings Dining & Entertainment
Education: Some college, “the school of hard knocks”
Family: Extended family in Massachusetts
Hobbies: Reading, music, shuffleboard
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