Do the people make the place?

For a long time I've debated the timeless question of whether or not it is the people that make the place or the place itself that makes an experience special. It seems that Wendy Bounds, author of "Little Chapel on the River" and Glenn Reynolds, author of "An Army of Davids" have competing views on the issue. Wendy Bounds' book about a riverside bar that earns a special place in her heart after 9/11, seems to argue that it is the place itself that creates a memorable experience. Now Ms. Bounds does remark on the people who frequent the bar, but the overtones of the story tend to suggest that she believes if the bar were closed down and the people relocated, the experience would be lost. I tend to feel that this view is a bit pessimistic. Glenn Reynolds, who believes that mega-bookstores and coffee shops like Starbucks are replacing the general stores and town bars of old, argues that it's really the people that make the place special. As we discussed in class, there is nothing preventing a customer from striking up a conversation with the barista or the cashier. Even though the employees might not live in the community, there's no reason why it should be difficult to establish a friendly relationship. I also believe that if a few good friends have a great time hanging out together in a bar or restaurant and are forced to relocate, they'll still be able to have just as good a time. When I was younger, I went to a sleep-away camp every year in Maine with the same kids for years. I became great friends with many of them as we shared a variety of experiences only summer camp could offer us. But when we were too old to go back, we didn't lose touch. We didn't stop talking to each other or accept that since the place was gone so were our good times. Instead, we sought out new experiences together, made new memories and continued to develop our relationships. While I love the idea of a Guinan's, I'd have to agree with Glenn Reynolds assertion and others who believe that it is the people who make a place special.