Retail Apocalypse

An aerial view of a park and the streets and high-rises of Downtown Omaha.

Downtown Omaha Planning for its Post-One-Way-Streets Era

The Omaha City Council has decided to reverse the transportation model adopted in the city in the 1950s, for the benefit of traffic safety and local retail activity.

June 9, 2023 - KETV

The granite exterior of the Nordstrom store in San Francisco.

Recent Retail Closures in U.S. Cities Follow Trends Established Before the Pandemic

While some cling to debatable claims about higher crime rates as the cause for recent high-profile store closures in U.S. downtowns, the real reasons are more realistically extensions of the causes of the “retail apocalypse” from the before times.

May 15, 2023 - CNN

A vacant department store in Coolidge, Arizona.

Looking to Vacant Retail Spaces for Needed Housing Supply

The Phoenix City Council has taken the first steps toward zoning reforms that can balance out the oversupply of retail spaces at one end of the market and the lack of housing units at the other.

November 8, 2021 - AZ Central

Stay-at-Home Orders

The State of Commercial Corridors (And How to Protect Them During the Pandemic)

The pandemic is accelerating recent trends in commercial real estate with potentially catastrophic consequences for the commercial corridors that play such a fundamental role in the urban fabric.

November 25, 2020 - Urban Institute

Retail Apocalypse

J. Crew the First National Apparel Chain to Fall During the Pandemic; More Expected to Follow

Another brutal chapter of the retail apocalypse is underway.

May 5, 2020 - The Washington Post

Retail Uses

A Death Knell for Department Stores

The latest chapter of the retail apocalypse is not a happy one.

April 23, 2020 - The New York Times

American Dream Meadowlands

American Dream Mall, Delayed Due to Coronavirus, Will Open Testing Facility

Delays have been part of the story with the American Dream mall in New Jersey since its earliest inception, and the mall has been lauded in the past for evolving to match the American retail landscape.

April 16, 2020 - Business Insider

Oktoberfest

Beloved Businesses Should Not Struggle Silently

The demise of local businesses reached a crisis point long ago. To survive, they must resort to desperate measures—by actually asking for help. If they don't, the urban fabric will suffer.

March 5, 2020 - Josh Stephens

Backpacking

Retail Apocalypse Blazes New Trails

The demise of a beloved outdoors gear chain in Southern California suggests that no store is safe in America's high-priced cities.

December 19, 2019 - California Planning & Development Report

Mall Makeovers Have a Mixed-Use Flavor

Malls in metropolitan Atlanta are thinking outside the (big) box to reposition in the age of the retail apocalypse.

March 8, 2019 - Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Big Box Store

Understanding the 'Dark Store Theory' Costing Local Governments Millions in Property Tax

The New York Times takes a deep dive into the "dark store theory" costing local municipalities millions, and potentially more, in property tax revenues all over the country.

January 17, 2019 - The New York Times

Christmas Shopping

6 Charts to Summarize the 'Retail Apocalypse' in 2018

2018 was more of the same for the demise of retail businesses in the United States.

December 31, 2018 - CityLab

Supreme Court Statue

Did the Supreme Court End the 'Retail Apocalypse'?

The decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair certainly didn't hurt traditional retailers, but they're still going to have to help themselves in the face of competition from online retail.

June 24, 2018 - Globe St.

Corner Store

Corner Store as Gathering Place

Chicago-based Foxtrot looks to expand their new convenience store concept with a nationwide roll-out.

March 23, 2018 - Modern Cities

Grocery Store

Competition, Debt Faulted in Bankruptcies of Two Major Food Retailers

Two major grocery store companies announced bankruptcy this week, sparking fears that the "retail apocalypse" has expanded to food retailers.

March 22, 2018 - The Washington Post

Retail Apocalypse

No More Toys R Us, Kids

Toys R Us will shut down all its remaining stores in the final blow of a process that began with bankruptcy filing in September 2017.

March 15, 2018 - NPR via KPCC

Great Mall of America

Friday Fun: Can You Save the American Mall? (The Video Game)

It's a free online video game, in retro 8-bit style. What could go wrong?

March 2, 2018 - Bloomberg

Santana Row

Innovative Approaches May Save Physical Retail

In places like San Jose, "new approaches to the storefront" are paying dividends for physical retailers willing to experiment.

March 1, 2018 - SPUR

The 'Retail Apocalypse' Visits New York City

The trend of store closures sweeping the nation has not passed up New York City. The Guardian takes an in-depth look at the market forces at work on the famous commercial corridors of New York City.

December 28, 2017 - The Guardian

Brick and Mortar Retail

Retail Job Decline Tilts Toward Rural Areas

While warehousing and ecommerce jobs are steadily increasing in most parts of the country, rural areas are particularly hard hit by the struggles of the retail sector.

December 22, 2017 - Indeed Hiring Lab

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

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