The retail universe is infinitely interesting. I grew up overseas and my experience over there - some of which has translated to over here during the last few decades - differed substantially. The idea of a large store was not one I encountered growing up - except in Mexico in which larger grocery stores existed as, I believe, outposts of American store chains. More typical was an intense array of small establishments, growing out of the market experience, in which many different vendors offered what, cumulatively, was a full array of products, but each was owned individually.
In Southeast Asia, however, there were single buildings that housed many small retailers - as a matter of fact, there were almost no other ways to find products but to enter a large building with multiple floors of vendors - up and up and back down corridors - all housed in a single "blok" (this was Indonesia). Over many visits, I have seen this trend continue (I presume there ARE big stores, just haven't shopped in them). What I find fascinating is that the idea that retail can be on more than one floor and still get traffic - this belies most American retail concepts, I believe. In Singapore and Japan I have seen buildings with upwards of seven floors of retail - all small vendors, even advertising as a restaurant from the street (Come to Floor 6!).
What I see here in Northern Virginia is the translation of this practice, especially in keeping with your attention to big-box stores. There are numerous Korean and Latin American grocery stores that have what appear to be individually owned vendors operating in part of the large space under the roof - clothing, housewares, cell stores, etc. - not directly competing with the main purpose of the store but complementing its offering. In Annandale, a former KMart is now a K Market (easy branding) with a restaurant area, small shops, and two stores dedicated to massage chairs - all under the same roof. In the Eden Center - a place I know you know well - there are upwards of 200 vendors in a mix of large and small. All of these complement each other and the larger grocery store that anchors one end of the area (a former Zayre's, I believe). For me, I find these arrangements - the connected retail - to be a happy reminder of my youth and one that I think, ultimately, points to an interesting retail future here in the heartland.
I'm not sure if this is the place to post this question, and sorry if it's the wrong spot. Is there a way that urbanism can accommodate the convenience of the super centers, and other big box stores? You recently had a post about box stores with rooftop parking, and likewise one of the themes of your blog is a debate on whether urbanism or sprawl is more convenient, and I'm generally sympathetic to your view. But the convenience of going to Target or Wal Mart is a strong counter, in my mind. Neighborhood groceries, drug stores, convenience stores, restaurants, even urgent cares - absolutely. But the super center seems predicated on space, seems like it needs a parking lot, and also I've a hard time visualizing it working in a smaller, neighborhood context.
The retail universe is infinitely interesting. I grew up overseas and my experience over there - some of which has translated to over here during the last few decades - differed substantially. The idea of a large store was not one I encountered growing up - except in Mexico in which larger grocery stores existed as, I believe, outposts of American store chains. More typical was an intense array of small establishments, growing out of the market experience, in which many different vendors offered what, cumulatively, was a full array of products, but each was owned individually.
In Southeast Asia, however, there were single buildings that housed many small retailers - as a matter of fact, there were almost no other ways to find products but to enter a large building with multiple floors of vendors - up and up and back down corridors - all housed in a single "blok" (this was Indonesia). Over many visits, I have seen this trend continue (I presume there ARE big stores, just haven't shopped in them). What I find fascinating is that the idea that retail can be on more than one floor and still get traffic - this belies most American retail concepts, I believe. In Singapore and Japan I have seen buildings with upwards of seven floors of retail - all small vendors, even advertising as a restaurant from the street (Come to Floor 6!).
What I see here in Northern Virginia is the translation of this practice, especially in keeping with your attention to big-box stores. There are numerous Korean and Latin American grocery stores that have what appear to be individually owned vendors operating in part of the large space under the roof - clothing, housewares, cell stores, etc. - not directly competing with the main purpose of the store but complementing its offering. In Annandale, a former KMart is now a K Market (easy branding) with a restaurant area, small shops, and two stores dedicated to massage chairs - all under the same roof. In the Eden Center - a place I know you know well - there are upwards of 200 vendors in a mix of large and small. All of these complement each other and the larger grocery store that anchors one end of the area (a former Zayre's, I believe). For me, I find these arrangements - the connected retail - to be a happy reminder of my youth and one that I think, ultimately, points to an interesting retail future here in the heartland.
I'm not sure if this is the place to post this question, and sorry if it's the wrong spot. Is there a way that urbanism can accommodate the convenience of the super centers, and other big box stores? You recently had a post about box stores with rooftop parking, and likewise one of the themes of your blog is a debate on whether urbanism or sprawl is more convenient, and I'm generally sympathetic to your view. But the convenience of going to Target or Wal Mart is a strong counter, in my mind. Neighborhood groceries, drug stores, convenience stores, restaurants, even urgent cares - absolutely. But the super center seems predicated on space, seems like it needs a parking lot, and also I've a hard time visualizing it working in a smaller, neighborhood context.