Editing Chain store (section)

==Characteristics==
A chain store is characterised by the ownership or franchise relationship between the local business or outlet and a controlling business.

{{anchor|Formula business}}

===Difference between a "chain" and formula retail===
While chains are typically "formula retail", a chain refers to ownership or franchise, whereas "formula retail" or "formula business" refers to the characteristics of the business.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Evans-Cowley |first1=Jennifer |title=Meeting the Big-box Challenge: Planning, Design, and Regulatory Strategies |date=2006 |publisher=American Planning Association |location=Chicago, Illinois |page=36}}</ref> There is considerable overlap because key characteristic of a formula retail business is that it is controlled as a part of a business relationship, and is generally part of a chain. Nevertheless, most codified municipal regulation relies on definitions of formula retail (e.g., [[formula restaurant]]s),<ref name="jaffrey_NH">[http://www.townofjaffrey.com/sites/jaffreynh/files/pages/summary_of_proposed_zoning_changes.pdf Town of Jaffrey Planning Board Proposed Zoning Changes Summary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613151007/http://www.townofjaffrey.com/sites/jaffreynh/files/pages/summary_of_proposed_zoning_changes.pdf |date=June 13, 2018 }}, Public Hearing January 22, 2018, Town of Jaffrey, New Hampshire (.pdf)</ref><ref name="sf_use">[http://sf-planning.org/chain-stores-formula-retail-use Permit how-to guides - chain stores (formula retail use)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180602035344/http://sf-planning.org/chain-stores-formula-retail-use |date=June 2, 2018 }}, Planning Dept., City and Cty. of San Francisco</ref><ref name="porttownsend">{{cite web|url=http://www.codepublishing.com/WA/PortTownsend/html/PortTownsend17/PortTownsend1754.html|title=Chapter 17.54 FORMULA RETAIL AND RESTAURANT ESTABLISHMENTS|website=Codepublishing.com|access-date=2 August 2018|archive-date=June 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626220512/http://www.codepublishing.com/WA/PortTownsend/html/PortTownsend17/PortTownsend1754.html|url-status=live}}</ref> in part because a restriction directed to "chains" may be deemed an impermissible restriction on [[Commerce Clause|interstate commerce]] (in the US), or as exceeding municipal zoning authority (i.e., regulating "who owns it" rather than the characteristics of the business).<ref name="park_v_malibu">[https://cases.justia.com/california/court-of-appeal/2017-b271620.pdf?ts=1498075335 The Park at Cross Creek v. City of Malibu] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625161109/https://cases.justia.com/california/court-of-appeal/2017-b271620.pdf?ts=1498075335 |date=June 25, 2018 }} Calif. Ct. App., 2nd. Dist. Filed 21-Jun-2017 (.pdf)</ref><ref name="malibu_response_to_park">[http://www.malibutimes.com/news/article_bf54fef2-bf29-11e7-a453-c3cc534231d0.html Chain Store Ordinance Resurrected From the Dead] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171105212744/http://www.malibutimes.com/news/article_bf54fef2-bf29-11e7-a453-c3cc534231d0.html |date=November 5, 2017 }}, ''The Malibu Times'' 1-Nov-2017</ref>  Non-codified restrictions will sometimes target "chains". A municipal ordinance may seek to prohibit "formula businesses" in order to maintain the character of a community and support local businesses that serve the surrounding neighborhood.<ref name=ilsr>{{Cite web|url=https://ilsr.org/rule/formula-business-restrictions/|title=Formula Business Restrictions|website=[[Institute for Local Self-Reliance]]|date=December 2008 |access-date=May 23, 2018|archive-date=May 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180524003614/https://ilsr.org/rule/formula-business-restrictions/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Decline===
{{main|Retail apocalypse}}
[[Brick-and-mortar]] chain stores have been in decline as retail has shifted to [[online shopping]], leading to historically high retail vacancy rates.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/article/20181112/printedition/311089962/amid-brick-and-mortar-shakeup-greater-hartfords-retail-vacancy-rate-shrinks|title=Amid brick-and-mortar shakeup, Greater Hartford's retail vacancy rate shrinks|website=Hartford Business Journal|access-date=8 January 2019|archive-date=January 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108201201/http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/article/20181112/printedition/311089962/amid-brick-and-mortar-shakeup-greater-hartfords-retail-vacancy-rate-shrinks|url-status=live}}</ref> The hundred-year-old [[Radio Shack]] chain went from 7,400 stores in 2001 to 400 stores in 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/322966|title=RadioShack Is Now Selling in Unexpected Places. Will Anyone Buy?|first=Clint|last=Carter|date=27 November 2018|website=Entrepreneur|access-date=8 January 2019|archive-date=December 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181201051232/https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/322966|url-status=live}}</ref> [[FYE (retailer)|FYE]] is the last remaining music chain store in the United States and has shrunk from over 1,000 at its height to 270 locations in 2018.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7710038/bob-higgins-trans-world-fye-dead-at-75|title=Bob Higgins, Pioneering Founder of Trans World and FYE, Dead at 75|magazine=Billboard|access-date=8 January 2019|archive-date=December 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206212718/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7710038/bob-higgins-trans-world-fye-dead-at-75|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2019, [[Payless ShoeSource]] stated that it would be closing all remaining 2,100 stores in the US.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/15/business/payless-closing-stores-bankrupt/index.html|title=Payless is closing all its 2,100 US stores|first=Ahiza|last=Garcia|website=CNN Business|publisher=CNN|date=February 16, 2019 |access-date=February 19, 2019|archive-date=February 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219072942/https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/15/business/payless-closing-stores-bankrupt/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>