Jan Boubín for TV Nova: Small towns are losing shops as customers increasingly turn to large retail centres

Traditional shops in smaller towns are disappearing faster than local authorities can replace them. Customers are increasingly opting for the convenience of large shopping centres, fundamentally reshaping the retail landscape and everyday life in regional communities.

The TV Nova report explores changing consumer behaviour in Czechia and the impact of retail concentration in large shopping centres on smaller towns. While retail parks and malls attract customers with a broad range of products, services and easy access, local shops are experiencing declining revenues and are often forced to close.

Economist Jan Boubín explains that the trend is driven not only by prices, but by a combination of convenience, shifting lifestyles and rising consumer expectations. These developments have long-term implications for small businesses, employment and the character of town centres, which gradually lose both their function and appeal as local services disappear.

The report also raises the question of what role municipalities, national authorities and regional strategies can play in maintaining essential services and supporting local economies outside major cities.

Full story