It would be nice to have some balance. I like stores like Bed Bath and Beyond, Home Depot, and Staples, but for certain items I prefer local stores, or at minimum stores that are highly specialized and know a lot about the products they are selling with better service.
What I like about the mega chains is I can buy several things in one place and returning is easy if something doesn’t match or work out. Also, if I move the chains provide some consistency. I am very annoyed that I don’t have supermarkets I like near me where I live now. I wish the chain from where I used to live was here.
Also, when traveling restaurant chains can provide a meal that you know will be decent and what you expect, even though when I live somewhere I like to frequent local restaurants. Also, when purchasing a gift for someone hundreds of miles away, I know they can exchange the gift if they need to with no problem at their local store.
Now, I do prefer department stores over these big discounters like @gailcalled mentioned. I think we had more moderate quality goods and there was more focus on buying fewer things that would last for some time. Now we buy a lot of junk that people just throw out without a thought.
@thriftymaid I think if stores were all local fewer employees would have health benefits and 401K plans set up. I know Walmart is accused of not employing people full time to avoid providing benefits, but for the most part large retail corporations do provide benefits.