The multi-city initiative spotlights neighborhood gathering spots across the U.S. and Canada to foster offline connection.

NEW YORK, Nov. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Amid widespread screen fatigue and a hunger for real-world connection, people are increasingly rediscovering the value of physical gathering spaces. Data from the Survey Center on American Life shows that a majority of young adults (52%) regularly visit local “third places” outside of home and work. This cultural shift is reflected in the revival of independent bookstores across the U.S. According to the American Booksellers Association, new independent bookstore openings surged 87% year-over-year.

Building on this momentum, Too Good To Go, the world’s largest marketplace for surplus food, has partnered with chef, author, and culinary star Sohla El-Waylly to champion these essential third places. Spanning five major cities across the U.S. and Canada, the initiative celebrates the independent eateries and local bookstores that turn our streets into vibrant gathering spots. Whether it’s discovering a neighborhood bakery through a Too Good To Go Surprise Bag or finding a favorite new author on an indie bookstore shelf, the partnership spotlights the magic of in-person discovery and connection.

“I’ve always been a neighborhood person,” said Sohla El-Waylly. “When I’m testing recipes at home, I end up with way more food than two people can eat, so I take extras down the street to the local shopkeepers on my block. That’s how real community happens — not through a screen, but face-to-face. As someone who writes about food and spends hours cooking, inspiration comes from the physical world: finding an unexpected ingredient at a corner market, catching up with a local store owner, or getting lost in an indie bookstore aisle and picking up a title you didn’t know you needed.”

Too Good To Go operates on that exact ethos of real-world discovery. Through the app, users reserve a Surprise Bag of surplus food without knowing exactly what they will receive until they pick it up in person. This model brings customers directly through the doors of independent storefronts, which comprise 72% of all partners on the app in the U.S. Working alongside local bookstores is a natural next step, bringing together two community fixtures that rely on neighborhood foot traffic to thrive.

From Surprise Bags to Surprise Books

This November, participating independent bookstores will mirror Too Good To Go’s signature surprise model by offering specially discounted, mystery-wrapped “surprise books.” Curated to encourage readers to take a chance on an unexpected title and support their neighborhood shop, the books will be available while supplies last across two phases:

Wave 1 — Saturday, November 14:

• The Rabbit (New York City, NY)
• Honey & Hue (Chicago, IL)
• Book Bar (Toronto, ON)

Wave 2 — Saturday, November 21:

• Malik Books (Los Angeles, CA)
• Mam’s Books (Seattle, WA)

“Local businesses are the heartbeat of our cities,” said Chris MacAulay, Vice President of Operations for North America at Too Good To Go. “Every Surprise Bag pickup gives people a tangible reason to look up from their phones, step outside, and connect with their neighborhood. Alongside Sohla, we’re proud to celebrate the local gathering spots that bring our communities to life.”

To learn more or to rescue surplus food from local businesses in your neighborhood, download the Too Good To Go app on iOS or Android or visit toogoodtogo.com.

About Too Good To Go

Too Good To Go is a global social impact company that connects users with partners to rescue unsold food and stop it from going to waste. Too Good To Go operates the world’s largest marketplace for surplus food, with 150 million registered users and 200,000 active partners across 20 countries in Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific. Since its launch in 2016, Too Good To Go has helped to save over 600 million meals from going to waste. The company partners with some of the industry’s biggest players across Grocery Retail, Bakery Cafe, Fast Casual, QSR, and Manufacturing.

Media Contact: Caitlin Gronski, cgronski@toogoodtogo.com 

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SOURCE Too Good To Go