We sometimes decry the lack of "third places", neither home nor work (or school). People go there to be social in more flexible ways. I have imagined opening a coffee shop/art gallery by that name.
Maybe not such a great name now, since the second places are getting murkier. But the need is still there.
There's a (very good) brewery with an (excellent) tap room in Milwaukee named Third Space Brewing, not such a terrible idea. https://thirdspacebrewing.com.
I've setup and worked there many afternoons when I've been in Wisconsin. The drinking culture is different in the upper Midwest though, it's not party thing (always) as much as a social activity. You're not expected to get drunk, think France and wine.
My mom grew up in Wisconsin, in a farm town that was little more than a crossroads with a church, a school (K-8, high schoolers went to the nearest big-town high school), a post office... and a bar. The bar was for the farmers to meet and socialize over a beer. As you said, not really to party, just have human contact and find out what else is going on in the area.
Maybe not such a great name now, since the second places are getting murkier. But the need is still there.