Everything a consumer could possibly need is available (often at a better price) at the click of a button. Retail has officially gone digital. But unofficially, the shop experience is still indispensable. One by one, ecomm powerhouses are returning to the ground. The merits of a personal in-store experience hold fast, but the way a consumer makes a purchase decision has completely changed. What drives sales inside those retail stores? Modern retailers are prioritizing hubs for culture and community over boxes to transact sales. Traditional retail spaces are no longer being treated as just a place to sell product. Instead retailers are creating an environment where brand values can be experienced and shared with like-minded peers. The brick-and-mortar experience is transforming into a cultural hot spot for building community.