Generally considered the world’s first department store, Le Bon Marché in Paris spurred a retail revolution when it began its incredible expansion in the late 19th century. The stores that followed on ...

A split image shows two retail stores: on the left, a beige building with a sign reading “Gordmans”; on the right, a brick and glass storefront with a large sign for “BOB’S STORES” against a blue sky.

It’s no secret that malls are struggling for relevancy. Once the “it” hangout spot for elderly mall walkers and teenyboppers alike, many malls have been left in the dust by rapid shifts in the way ...