Retailers head back to the city
The New York Times explores the trend of retailers moving back to cities. Office Depot's 5,000 square foot urban stores carry 4,500 items, versus 9,000 in suburban stores. Sales are 90 percent of the suburban store's total in much smaller square footage. But sales of some items, like office furniture, suffer. Target has rolled out an urban format. “You’ll see less 12-packs of paper towels and more four-packs, knowing most people will arrive by foot or public transportation and will have to carry it home,” Molly Snyder, a company spokeswoman, says. In the past, retailers tried to stuff suburban stores into cities, but now they are much more willing to adapt with smaller and better-designed stores, such as the Target shown above, which opened this week in Chicago. Better! Cities & Towns reports on this topic in more detail in its July-August 2012 issue.
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