Most American retail moved to the edge of town.
Big parking lot. Highway access. A building that could be anywhere and looks like it.
Renys did something stubborn. It stayed downtown.
Old brick buildings on main streets in small Maine towns. Awkward layouts. Limited parking. Multiple floors connected by stairs that were installed before anyone thought about logistics.
From a pure operations standpoint that is a terrible decision.
From a business standpoint it turned out to be brilliant, and the reason has very little to do with charm.
A downtown store is not just a store. It is an anchor. And anchors do something to everything around them.
That effect is worth real money, including to people who never shop there.
Here is how it works.