Digital Media Center
Bryant-Denny Stadium, Gate 61
Box 870370
920 Paul Bryant Drive
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0370
205-348-6644

© 2026 Alabama Public Radio
Donate/Portal
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Thank you for listening and visiting.

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
Business & Education
Alina Selyukh
Alina Selyukh is a business correspondent at NPR.
See stories by Alina Selyukh
News from Alabama Public Radio is a public service in association with the University of Alabama. We depend on your help to keep our programming on the air and online. Please consider supporting the news you rely on with a donation today. Every contribution, no matter the size, propels our vital coverage. Thank you.
Donate