The traditional retail anchor is being redefined. Large department stores once dominated most shopping centers. Now, concepts like food halls, upscale restaurants, immersive cinema experiences and gaming venues are taking center stage.

Consumer psychology, behavioral economics, and game design have replaced proximity to checkout as the leading cause of impulse purchases and, if done right, the consumer gets a jolt of delight instead of fresh cavities.

If there is one takeaway from the resurgence of bookstores, it is that retail isn’t dying but evolving in ways that prioritize human connection and thoughtful design.

New research shows 61 percent of enterprise leaders feel overwhelmed by data while one in three retailers have not adopted AI despite mounting pressure.