Why are so many Storefronts and Chains closing in the U.S.?

It's mostly about your money and your time. If you know what you actually want to buy it is often easier to buy online. However, if you have questions about something you want to buy or you just want to "Touch it" to see what it is how it works etc. then maybe you need to see one in a store front. But, even then you might go to a store front and touch what you want but then search online and realize (especially if you have Amazon Prime where shipping is free) you can get it cheaper.

The first time I really thought about this free shipping thing was when my son was building a custom computer and he told me he saved $300 dollars in shipping by shipping and buying everything through Amazon prime.

So, if people want to feel and touch clothes or tech or ask questions about it at a store but then don't buy because they can get free shipping and buy it cheaper online then those store fronts all are going to go out of business because all storefronts are expensive.

This is the reality we are experiencing. However, it isn't all good. For example, several years ago now when Borders went out of business nationwide (book store chain), my wife was really upset because she doesn't like to read electronic books on Kindle and stuff like that. So, that meant (because Borders had already put out of business all new book stores in our area that she would either have to buy all her books online or to drive somewhere to another city or location to buy books.

So, as stores close down more and more and chains also, more and more people that work at those stores as well as the people that liked to shop at those stores are all suffering.

But, if you have ever owned a business, most people cannot stay in business if a business isn't going to turn a profit in one or 2 of the next 5 years. So, this is why they are closing and likely will continue to close in greater and greater numbers.

Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

If you need a job at one of these stores this is a very bad thing or if you need to shop at one of these stores this is a very bad thing.

But, if you are okay buying everything cheaper online with free shipping then you might be okay with this.

But, something is definitely lost when you see all these chains and storefronts close year after year that will permanently change how Americans live and shop and even think and act and how they interact or don't interact at all except online.

Note: One other factor that I forgot to mention is it costs to drive your car to a store or to take a bus or cab to a store too. What if it's snowing outside or raining or there is a tornado outside?

These factors too are a part of what is closing storefronts nationwide.