, Columnist
Retail Apocalypse Can Lead to Suburban Renaissance
Stores that shrink or close under pressure from e-commerce will create opportunities for reshaping the American landscape.
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As technology changes, a country’s industrial mix changes. A century and a half ago, most Americans -- and indeed, most human beings -- worked on farms. Today almost nobody does. Nowadays, a substantial number of Americans work in retail, ringing up purchases, stocking shelves or helping customers find what they need. But in a decade or two, it’s anyone’s guess as to whether brick-and-mortar retail will continue to dominate the urban, industrial and occupational landscape of the U.S.
Early signs point to “no.” The rise of e-commerce continues unabated: