Cities and Consumption Spaces

Abstract

The authors explore the sociospatial relationship that exists between where households reside and consumption spaces: places specially built or redeveloped for people who visit to buy and consume within these locations the fun goods and services on sale. Consumption spaces are categorized here according to the opportunities they provide for stimulating the senses, and focusing empirically on the Australian city of Brisbane, they were found to be disproportionately concentrated in a community ringing the central business district. This community contained about one-quarter of the metropolitan area’s 1.5 million residents, and it was characterized by nontraditional households, high socioeconomic status, and a significant ethnic presence.

Tourism-driven urbanization in China’s small town development: A case study of Zhapo Town, 1986–2003

“…Notably, this tourism-driven model of small town urbanization is expected to share certain similarities with the classical form of town urbanization in China. But there are also significant differences, as tourism-driven town urbanization is based on the production of spaces of consumption, 1 instead of production, which creates new demands for the land use pattern and local employment structure (Mullins, Natalier, Smith, & Smeaton, 1999).…”

‘Time-out’ with the family: the shaping of family leisure in the new urban consumption spaces of cafes, bars and restaurants

“…Having a coffee is not only about drinking coffee but also about choosing a specific coffee in a particular space and preferably within a leisurely ambiance. New urban consumption trends are related with fun rather than with 'necessity' (Mullins, Natalier, Smith, & Smeaton, 1999). With their demand for a specific supply of consumption goods and spaces, new urban households contribute to the emergence of new urban consumption infrastructures.…”

Culinary Deserts, Gastronomic Oases: A Classification of US Cities

“…While Mullins et al (1999) found that consumption spaces of all kinds are concentrated in areas of high socioeconomic status and diversity, I found that such places-urbane cities-tend to have concentrations of a particular type of consumption space. Findings concerning 'locational disadvantage' were more consistent.…”

“…Because a three-diamond establishment is described as "the entry level into fine dining" which aims at providing "an experience rather than just a meal", (AAA, 1997) Coffee shops. Although the coffee shop appears explicitly in only two prior classifications (Mullins et al, 1999;Warde et al, 1999), it has been the subject of much recent scholarship. Oldenberg (1989) identified the coffee shop as an example of a 'third place'-a place outside home and work/ school where people can interact socially.…”