Main Street Businesses Then & Now

Take a look at the top Main Street businesses in the 1970s compared with today...

1970s

• Retail stores

• Grocery stores

• Hardware stores

• Pharmacies

• Restaurants and diners

2025

• Boutique retail shops

• Restaurants and cafes

• Art galleries and cultural venues

• Outdoor and recreation stores

• Personal care and wellness businesses

Main Streets of the 1970s were locally owned and practial - designed to meet basic community needs. In contrast, today’s Main Street businesses emphasize experiences and specialized interests moving away from the generalist approach that defined the past.

What caused this shift?

One reason for this change is the rise of big box stores and online shopping. Consumers shop at big box stores and online for their necessities. It's often cheaper and more convenient. Main Street retail has had to shift its focus from everyday essentials to unique, locally curated items that cannot be easily found at Walmart or online.

Tourism and community engagement now play a significant role in shaping Main Streets. Modern businesses are designed to attract visitors with experiences and community events, whereas 1970s Main Streets primarily served the needs of local residents.

Finally, the decline of anchor businesses like clothing stores and local grocers has transformed the landscape. Many of these stores have moved to shopping centers or big-box retailers on the outskirts of town, making space for these new types of small businesses that align with the new consumer demands and economic realities.

New Businesses New Needs

Main Street may look different today, but its heart is the same. It’s still made up of local people taking bold steps to serve their communities, but

in new and creative ways. As the types of businesses have shifted, so have the needs of the people who run them. If we want our Main Streets to thrive, we have to understand and support the entrepreneurs behind today’s boutiques, wellness studios, and coffee shops—because they’re not just selling products, they’re building the future of our towns.