Transformation strategies for inner-city retail locations in the face of E-commerce

Inner cities have always been the centres of retail in European cities, which withstood many radical changes due to their adaptability. Current developments query the persistence of this adaptability. One key factor is the booming e-commerce. It is increasingly affecting the inner cities as its sales shares are rapidly growing. This raises the question, if inner-city retail locations can find new attractive offers and functions, or if vacancies and trading down effects will threaten them. A loss of inner-city urbanity would be the result – in contrast to the objectives of the Leipzig Charter. Six transformation strategies are recommended; digital services, moderate festivalisation, local community groups, vacancy management, concentration of inner-city retail locations as well as alternative forms of mobility. These strategies should help to increase the sojourn quality of the inner cities and thus their attractiveness. In this way, inner cities can continue to be the central hub, the place of identification and the preferred place to dwell in a city.