To me, american retail seems to have morphed into one gigantic store. All stores are more or less the same, these days.
I guess 50 years or so of highly organized research into how best to sell stuff to the American consumer has led to this.
I suppose small-store character has its charm, but who really needs charm when they're buying toilet paper?
On another note, I also like Starbucks and couldn't care less that it's run by a bunch of lefties.
I don't like Starbucks - but it has nothing to do with who runs it - I just don't like their product :)
I live in a very rural area and there are very few major chain retailers, so I do still do a lot of shopping in small town mom & pop type stores. I like having such choices.
I found out last night that Lowe's is going to build a store behind the Walmart, which is great. As much as I love the local harware/lumberyard, there are just some things that a Lowe's or Home Depot are better suited. Another reason it's great is it will be only 15 miles away, currently I have to go 60 miles to get to a Lowe's or Home Depot.