The future of the Streets

All you hear these days is Internet is stealing the local stores money and other crazy stuff like that. Basically the dinosaurs are throwing their tales around and missing the point. So what would an average street be like in the future? With the adaption of internet shopping for various types of retail, will the common street front be a thing of the past?

Entertainment like movies and games will slowly disperse from retail stores to the internet. Were the upkeep is drastically less than hundreds of stores across the country. This will be good too for the consumer, with the consumer wanting more and more entertainment cheaper than the current high market price. I could see what little entertainment which does exist in the retail stores been limited to smaller selections and big releases aimed for the “right there, right now” market. However with the increasing effectiveness of postal services this too might just disappear.

Supermarkets will still exist, while they are trying for that whole online push as well, like the delivery systems tried years ago they will just forget them as well. The whole idea of purchasing produce online just seems a more over presented pointless exercise. Especially when half the time the stores themselves usually have the dodgiest produce, why would an online warehouse supermarket have any fresher?

I expect the future of the shop front will be more speciality stores which are not aimed at entertainment or convince but what a consumer would need locally. For example building supply stores and other industrial setups. The corner store would probably return and the malls will be a of a relic of the past.

Bars and clubs should also evolve, not as a “this is the future” but more as “this is what I want”, stop panning for the typical Bogan and put in some sophistication to a night out. Evolve to more of a lounge style set up which is open late with various actives outside the usual rave party; give us some board and video game setups.