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Selling experiences, not things: Services overtake physical goods in downtown retail

NPR | By Alina Selyukh
Published August 8, 2026 at 6:43 AM CDT

America's downtowns are changing. Storefronts that used to showcase clothes or gifts are giving way to gyms and salons. Last year marked the first time that more retail space went to shops offering services rather than things.

Copyright 2026 NPR
Alina Selyukh
Alina Selyukh is a business correspondent at NPR.
See stories by Alina Selyukh