I would like to have a good local photography store. I used to go out of my way to patronize a local store, until after buying my first digital camera from them (and paying a premium for buying local) I found dust on the sensor when I opened the box and they wanted to charge me $50 to clean my brand new sensor. Since then I have been a loyal mail order buyer. I don't even know if the local store is still in business. The point is, as noted above, local stores cannot compete with the internet on price or variety, but they can compete very well on things like customer service, advice, general information, and perhaps even as a social venue. But unless they clearly understand that, they are not going to do very well. Of course service, advice and info do not come cheap, so how that will work out economically is hard to say. The Apple computer stores are an interesting example of a successful brinks and mortar outlet that charges high prices but sucks people in with a lot of customer service through their "genius bars".
JBWX