I've read a few articles about this over the last year that are more in-depth. Tomorrow, I will try to dig them up and post links. This article really glosses over the biggest problems with leasing retail space: 1. Landlords are terrified of mom and pops and only want to lease to big chains and 2. the city has made retail use too narrow... and they've eliminated the kinds of uses that are the hottest growing markets these days. For example, new mini-marts can't sell alcohol and fitness centers aren't allowed on ground level street-facing storefronts... so there are a lot of businesses who just aren't allowed into these vacant buildings.