[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Concur.

In my part of the world there is a move away from the big box stores to smaller, more locally focused inventory businesses: True Value, for instance, knows their customer base extremely well, is 1/10th the size of a Lowes and is always packed.

Just a better shopping experience with very helpful floor folks.

The Dollar General model seems to flourish here as well...small, well stocked stores that are convenient to the customer base.

WAWA is another example. I did my undergraduate economics thesis on convenience stores - circa 1980!

WAWA has simply destroyed the 7-11's of this area.

Same. I like to think of it as tactical shopping vs strategic.. Ace Hardware is big around here and always packed, get in and get out in 5 minutes. All of the recent retail built has been more of the targeted boutique type stores vs the big box general sales model. DSW Shoes vs Dillard’s for instance. Much like malls I think people are tired of wandering aimlessly through millions of square feet to purchase a single item.