Everyone knew the web would affect retail, but a "retail meltdown"

[Warpy]

57. Online sales aren't killing retail nearly as much as low wages are

Most of us would rather try on clothing and especially shoes for fit, rather than take a chance online. Retail therapy used to be a thing, although I never really shared it. Window shopping was once a great way to kill an otherwise boring Sunday afternoon.

All that is gone and strip malls around here look like meth mouth from all the empty spaces and some are even getting bulldozed. In this city of about 750,000, one mall is nearly empty and the other is struggling. Mid level restaurants are closing and there are now two stand alone appliance stores in town.

Clearly something besides online shopping has been happening, and that something is wages that have been allowed to fall too far.

Anyone who wants amenities like retail back had better start supporting only those pols who campaign on higher wages. That's the only thing that will bring stores back.