• Millions of small businesses at risk from COVID-19 crisis

    A shocking number of American small businesses, employing tens of millions of people, are at imminent risk of permanent closure if the crisis continues much longer, according to a survey of Main Street America.
    Nearly 7.5 million American small businesses are at risk of closing permanently if the coronavirus crisis lasts for five months, and 3.5 million are at risk of closure in 1-2 months, according to a nationwide survey of Main Street America (MSA). More than 5,850 small business owners responded to...Read more

  • Village centers offer quick and local shopping

    The village center is a walkable urban retail type comprising a small group of shops that allow nearby residents to make quick purchases—often on the way home.
    Typically, between 10,000 and 30,000 square feet in size, the village center offers an array of goods and services geared to the daily needs of its surrounding neighborhoods. Often including a small specialty food market or pharmacy, a village center contains a limited number of tenants that offer...Read more

  • Corner stores can anchor a neighborhood

    Corner stores are the smallest and most useful type of retail—here's how to make them succeed.
    The smallest and most useful retail type of center, the corner store holds a special place in neighborhoods. Most corner stores range from between 1,500 to 3,000 square feet in the first level. The store can be sited as a stand-alone struc­ture or built into a mixed-use building, in both cases...Read more

  • Ten rules for successful storefront design

    An engaging storefront starts with a vision, then good storytelling, and design that engages the community.
    Editor's note: The following is an excerpt from an e-book, The Ten No-B.S. Rules for Successful Storefront Design . If you are a retail or restaurant entrepreneur, reading the entire book is highly recommended—it is full of excellent advice. Download here . 1. Create a vision You are a small...Read more