The acceleration of the decline of bricks and mortar retail

Covid-19 has accelerated trends that were already in play, possibly nowhere more so than those affecting physical retail stores.  Online shopping was already having a negative effect on traditional retail shopping but now that trend has been supercharged.  Department stores have been struggling over the past few years with their large floor areas and long leases.  Now, even the flagship John Lewis store on Oxford Street could see permanent changes that will dramatically shrink its size. This is a trend that is unlikely to be reversed.  The fact is that landlords, retailers, investors, banks and local authorities are all going to have to work together to re-purpose as quickly and efficiently as possible vast swathes of commercial property that is already redundant and highly unlikely to be in demand as retail space again.