Big box stores in general are hurting. The one really big one (you know the one) is staying alive because of cheap prices, underpaid workers, lots of rural locations where there's not much choice in shopping, and by offering mostly cheap imported goods, but the mid-range ones are definitely feeling pressure because they can't compete with places like Amazon that sell the same stuff and have the most online brand awareness. That's one reason so many have expanded into having grocery sections as that's one thing almost everyone does buy in store.
Specialty stores, however, are actually doing well, and the more specialized often the better they do. Barnes & Noble is basically dead, but small bookstores that specialize in only gaming, spirituality, feminist thought, children's books, etc. are actually on average successful right now. Honestly I think it has to do with perception, there's a bit of elitism in going to a store that only sells crunchy hiking clothes or soccer equipment, there's a culture that comes with a store like that that is absent in a big box retailer, that might sell the same thing at a cheaper cost but doesn't make me feel like part of a group.
I might buy a toaster and toiler paper and printer ink online because it's just stuff I need but am not passionate about, but I feel like I'm surrounded by people like me when shopping at a store that sells only nail polish or bike parts or comic books, so I'm more likely to buy those in person because the experience of shopping in those stores gives me a sense of inclusion in a community or culture. So if you're old fashioned, be really old fashioned and look for small stores that sell just one type of thing. You might be doing more driving, but you're likely to find more selection within that category of items and a more passionate staff than in a box store.