Nina J. Gruen is a principal with the market research, real estate economics, and strategic planning and predevelopment services firm Gruen Gruen + Associates in San Francisco and Deerfield, Illinois.
The young have been leading the shift away from bricks-and-mortar stores, and this shift in purchasing habits is accelerating as the creators of virtual stores make it more fun and convenient to purchase items via computer, day or night.
Given the demographic and behavioral shifts, as well as the supply competition, expected to continue after the economic recovery, what steps should small cities take to boost their downtowns?