PA-PLAYA It's hard for me to find any sympathy for what is happening to the big box chains these days, however. They're getting a hefty dose of the medicine they've been doling out on the local family-owned businesses for the past 15+ years.
I live in a small city. We have one Walmart, one Lowes, one hardware store and two Krogers and that is about it except for a lot of mom and pop stores. Most of the mom and pop stores that are disappearing are not because the internet or big box stores are running them off. Most seem to go belly up after mom and pop retire and the kids take it over. They seem to go belly up in a year unless mom and pop jump back in.
Regarding our Lowes about five years ago our Lowes was terrible. You couldn't find help if you needed it and they were always out of stuff or misplaced in the wrong bins. A Home Depot moved in across the street and Lowes immediately got their collective shit together. The HD was wonderful then after about a year it was like Lowes used to be. Soon after the HD closed. Then soon after Lowes is back to it's old ways. The workers walk around with their cell phones in their ears and when they see a customer looking for help they run like they are lepers. This is why I do most of my shopping on the internet. Our one Walmart is nasty and I avoid it. BTW, for those bashing Amazon I saw a stat last week that said Amazon's sales volume is 20% of what Walmart's is.
Something our Krogers started last year is internet shopping. Select your groceries on their website and pick them at a covered Kiosk in the parking lot of your Kroger store. They put them in the car for you. We have been doing this for a year now. It take about 10 minutes and we have not had a single glitch. Last week they added home delivery.