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What happened to corner stores? A thread. 
First, what is a corner store? They are generally small retail stores that sell food, groceries, coffee, and household items on the corner of two intersecting streets near (or in!) a residential area.
Hereâs an example of a corner store in Portage Bay. http://littlelago.com/
Little Lago sells espresso, pizza, ice cream, groceries, alcohol, and other household items. Think Whole Foods vibes, but independent. Pre-COVID there were beer/wine tasting nights and the option to sit down and eat in addition to just grabbing groceries.
The storeâs location allows residents in Portage Bay (the very northern tip of Capitol Hill) to walk and grab a dozen eggs or a latte versus taking a bus or car elsewhere. This is one more small tool to help reduce carbon emissions through a decrease in auto transportation.
Allowing local, well-designed stores makes areas more appealing, and boosts neighborhood value. https://www.trulia.com/blog/5-neighborhood-features-that-boost-property-value/
Okay. This all sounds great. Why donât we have more local corner stores to serve the greater Seattle area? The short answer is a historical change in zoning and priorities across the U.S.
ââŠlocal zoning laws were adopted that separated residential areas from potential conflicts with commercial and industrial uses, and single family areas became viewed as sacrosanct.â @MRSC_WA http://mrsc.org/Home/Stay-Informed/MRSC-Insight/March-2013/Healthy-Corner-Stores%E2%80%94Past-and-Present.aspx
Itâs worth noting that Little Lago could not be built today in a different, residential location of Seattle. The old zoning for their building (predating the current SF requirements) allowed the store to be grandfathered in.
One example is Davenport, IA. In the 1940s the city had 164 corner stores. By 2011, there were only six. âThis same story of the loss of the corner neighborhood store has been played out in many cities, large and small, in Washington State and throughout the U.S.â @MRSC_WA
Some areas in the U.S. have tried to bring back the corner store. Washington D.C.âs Zoning Commission voted unanimously in 2016 to allow corner stores in their R-3 and R-4 zones (rowhouses) but not lower density zones (such as single-family). https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/zoning_changes_in_depth_corner_stores/10821
Chicagoâs South Side is also investing in corner stores! This example is great because the design focuses on the needs of the particular neighborhood. @zachmortice via @CityLab https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-07-31/can-a-better-grocery-store-save-a-neighborhood
Globally, we see the successes of these kinds of corner stores and Accessory Commercial Units (ACUs). From Japan to Paris, small retail spaces provide walkability and community for its neighborhoods. https://twitter.com/SallyAnn_12/status/1289979331268108289
@SeaTransitBlog points out the benefit of walkability: âBy allowing small corner stores to repopulate communities, a dispersed network of services could be available and within walking distance for everyoneâ https://seattletransitblog.com/2016/03/26/were-losing-character-in-single-family-zones/
With the economic impact of COVID-19 shuttering many small businesses, a revival of independent shops scattered throughout neighborhoods in small retail spaces provide opportunities for business creation. https://www.fastcompany.com/90530672/with-downtowns-staying-abandoned-put-tiny-businesses-back-into-residential-neighborhoods
We know there are half a dozen or so local corner stores that exist in King and Snohomish counties that have been grandfathered in. Are there any corner stores in your neighborhood that you frequent?
