Retail Store Spatial Affinities

Heterogeneous and homogeneous data sets are examined to determine whether retail store spatial affinities exist within the central business districts of a sample of American cities. Use is made of a test designed to identify statistically significant spatial associations. The findings of the study suggest that there are undoubtedly some significant affinities between business types, but that they are very limited in number and not constant from city to city. When data from the cities are combined, four groups are shown to emerge, the most prominent displaying a strong bond between women's clothing, women's accessory, and variety stores.