In order to better cater to the demands of busy consumers who live in urban environments, a number of companies are experimenting with the launch small-scale retail spaces. This includes ultra-condensed stores like Walmart To Go, Target Express, Sephora Studio and London Drugs' LDExpress.
Although these stores lack the space to hold the inventory that can be found in big-box retail outlets, they offer curated selections to the discerning urban shopper who is pressed for time. An example of this is the hybrid Fourth + Court Hy-Vee "grocerant," which sells a selection of fresh produce and prepared meals.
Retailers are pushing the limits of small-scale retail spaces by exploring 1,400 square meter department stores, pop-up restaurants in laneways and even entire shopping malls that occupy just 6,800 square feet in all.
12 Small-Scale Retail Stores

12
Secret Celebratory Burgers
A foodora Burger's Priest Pop-Up Hit Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver

11
Micro Basement Bakeries
Pâtisserie Petit Lapin is a Small Bakery Creating Delicious Treats
10
Small-Footprint Beauty Retailers
'Sephora Studio' is a New Store with Same-Day Ordering
9
Experimental Small-Format Flagships
Target Has Opened Its First Small-Format Urban Stores in NYC
8
Compact Korean Shopping Malls
The Lotte El Cube Mall Caters to Young, Fashion-Conscious Shoppers
7
Big-Box Convenience Shops
'Walmart To Go' is the Brand's Take on the Convenience Store Format
6
Ultra-Condensed Pharmacy Shops
London Drugs is Opening a Small Store Called 'LDExpress'
5
Scaled-Down Department Stores
The New David Jones Store Offers a Curated Selection of Items
4
Express Grocery Stores
Sobeys' Unveiled a New Express Store Concept in Nova Scotia
3
Self-Serve Shopping Cafes
Alibaba's 'Tao Cafe' Takes the eShopping Experience Offline
2
Micro Pop-Up Stores
Netshoes' Cleverly Creates the Smallest and Largest Sporting Goods Shop
1
Urban Grocerant Concepts
The Fourth + Court Hy-Vee in Des Moines Sells Groceries & Prepared Meals
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Technology-Driven Retail Spaces
ARK Visual Unveils Future Stores as an Immersive Retail Identity
Restored Cafe Culture Retailers
The New Starbucks Coffee House Design Revives the Local Cafe Feel
Next-Gen Sneaker Stores
Foot Locker's Store of the Future Concept is Bolder and Easier to Shop
Luxury Fashion-Branded Hospitality Projects
Coach Debuts Restaurant & Coffee Shop in Indonesia
Sensorial Luxury Beauty Stores
The Aesop Flagship Store at Sanya International Boasts Elegance
Chic Footwear Retail Expansions
Dolce Vita Debuts its First Canadian Flagship Store
Luxe Supermarket Minimal Fashion
Erewhon Supermarket and Merci Join on a Special Capsule
Grocer-Inspired Beauty Retail Pop-Ups
The Benefit Benemart Holiday Concept Shop is at Selfridges
Grab-and-Go Employee-Free Retailers
Lotus Launched a 'Pick & Go' Location in Thailand
Retail Store Revamps
H&M Updates Shopping Experience with Luxe, Tech-Savvy Store in London
Nature-Inspired Coffee Boutiques
Nespresso Opens a Retail Location in Yorkdale Shopping Centre
Experiential Intimates Spaces
Knix Opens Immersive Retail Location at Premium Shopping Centre
Immersive High-Fashion Retail Experiences
Alaïa Opens a Bookstore and Café at Its Flagship Store
Digital Cosmetics Pop-Ups
Oh My Cream! Launched a Digital Pop-Up to Showcase Nine Brands
Recycling-Focused Store Concepts
COS Adopts Recycled Materials to Enhance its New Store Locations
Concept Perfume Stores
Lush's Perfume Library Provides Consultations with Fragrance Experts
Selective Retail Pop-Ups
'Woolrich Black Label' by Todd Snyder is Taking a New Retail Approch
Cost-Conscious Cashierless Microstores
Fainders.AI Launched a Prefab MicroStore Within a Gym
5g-Enabled Retail Showcases
Singtel is Surpassing Consumer Expectations with 5G Retail
Sculptural Luxury Fashion Stores
Burberry's New Store in Milan is Situated at Via Sant' Andrea 2
Discount Grocery Store Pilots
Loblaw Introduces a New No Name Store Format in Ontario
Beautified Community Spaces
Sephora Canada's Beauty at The Bentway Revitalizes Outdoor Space
Modern Retail Café Concepts
The EL&N Deli & Bakery Opens its Doors in Shaftesbury Capital
Phygital Beauty Store Experiences
Sephora's Store of the Future Locations are Immersive
Multi-Sensory Flagship Stores
KATE Shibuya Offers Immersive Digital and Physical Experiences
Convenient Store-Themed Pop-Ups
Lee Kum Kee Showcased its Ingredients with Retro Flare
Hair Care Retail Expansions
Function of Beauty Opens a Storefront With Amazon
Meticulous Apparel Stores
The Elder Statesman Unveils a Stunning New York Flagship
Tailored Retail Experiences
Levi’s Reinvents Retail with NextGen Indigo Shopping Experience
Tranquil Retail Environments
NEOM Wellbeing Has Launched Its First U.S. Storefront in New York
Luxury Jewelry Concept Stores
Birks Has Opened a New Concept Store at Royalmount
Branded Low-Cost eCommerce Stores
Amazon Haul Offers Low-Cost Products to Attract Shoppers
Retro Video Game Stores
Gamestop is Opening 'Retro' Locations to Sell Used Games
Art Gallery-Inspired Luxury Shops
Proenza Schouler is Gearing Up to Open Its Flagship Store
Record-Breaking Autonomous Supermarkets
Sensei Debuted a Groundbreaking Supermarket at NRF 2025
Curated Intimate Retail Experiences
Alaïa Flagship Store in London Was Recently Redesigned
Digital Travel Retail Experiences
Clarins Debuted an Initiative at the Airport in Hainan, China
Small-Format Department Stores
Macy’s Unveils Plan to Open Up to 30 Small-format Stores
Immersive Entertainment Venues
Netflix Houses Feature Eateries, Experiential Activities & More
Jewelry Retail Expansions
Mejuri Opens 40th Location at Major Canadian Shopping Center
Colorfully Immersive Retail Experiences
Al-Jawad Pike Designs a Athletic Propulsion Labs Store
Playful Retail Pop-Up Installations
Selfridges Unveils the Joke Shop with a Slapstick Generator
Luxury Store Closures
Bloomingdale’s is Set to Close Its San Francisco Flagship
Live Shopping Flagships
Outlandish's Santa Monica Location Supports Live Social Media Shopping
Private Label eCommerce Groceries
The Amazon Saver Range Offers Competitive Price Points
Australian Beauty Store Expansions
Adore Beauty Unveils a Physical Store in Westfield Southland
Miniature Cafe Collections
Starbucks Japan Has Just Release a Miniature Collection to Go
Retail Rage Rooms
Miista's Rage Room Invites NYC Customers to Destroy and Express Emotions
Conscious-Focused Retail Stores
ATLAS Opens its Doors in Westfield Century City
Interactive Cosmetics Retail Stores
Watsons Upgrades its Stores for Gen Z and Gen Alpha Consumers
Localized Retail Experiences
UNIQLO Sherway Blends Japanese Tradition with Toronto Culture
Pioneering Plant-Based Supermarkets
REWE's Venture is Considered a Bold Innovation in the Industry
Home Decor Concept Stores
Fable will Offer Simplistic Possibilities with its New Retail Location
Architecturally Inspired Luxury Boutiques
Dolce & Gabbana Debuts a New Flagship Boutique
Two Kilometer-Stretched Stores
IKEA Unveils a Linear Store Plan Stretching Almost 2 Kilometers
Experiential Retail Sampling Programs
Dollar General and Recess Partnered for a New Campaign
Anthropomorphic Store Campaigns
IKEA's Short Social Films Promote Its Click-and-Collect Service
Lifestyle Brand Expansions
MINISO's IP Collection Store in Toronto is Vibrant and Thematic
Compact-Focused Kitchen Collections
Cuisinart Has Launched Its New Soho Collection
Workplace-Integrated Store Locations
IKEA Hosts Hej!Workshop Coworking Space in its Store
Miniaturized Minimalist Pouch Packs
The UNIQLO Round Ultra-Mini Bag Comes in Many Colors
Inventive Retail Strategies
H&M is Working to Localize Its Shopping Experience
Rapid Grocery Delivery Services
Instacart and Albertsons Companies Have Expanded Their Partnership
Efficient Compact Measuring Scales
American Weigh Scales Partners with Mr. Checkout
Inaugural Anime-Inspired Retail Stores
HYPLAND Reccently Debuted Its First Retail Store in LA
Toronto Mall Beauty Expansions
Sephora's Grand Opening at the Well Offers Free Incentives
Collaborative Cosmetic Concept Shops
Hourglass and Barneys New York Partnered for a Concept Store
Mindful Green Retail Initiatives
SM Store's 'Green Finds' Improves Mindful Consumerism
Whimsical Store Expansions
MINISO Jakarta Presents a Retail Space Inspired by an Amusement Park
Reduced Packaging Drink Ranges
The 7-Eleven 7-Select Replenish Range Features a New Bottle Design
Influencer-Led Virtual Shops
Walmart Launches the New Walmart Realm Digital E-Commerce Experience
Whimsical World-Inspired Collections
MINISO and Warner Bros Present a Harry Potter Collection
Tech-Enhanced Grocery Retail Experiences
RSA America & the California Grocers Association Partner
Half-Day Juice Cleanses
Pressed Juicery Unveils the 'Express Cleanse' at 200 Target Locations
Grocery Store Quiet Hours
Woolworths Expands Its Quiet Hour Initiative at Its Stores
Women-Focused Lifestyle Retail Concepts
MILK MONEY is Expanding Its Boutique Concept to Boston
Gallery-Like Elevated Retail Designs
Format Architecture Office Designs the Leica Store & Gallery
Retail Innovation-Focused Events
Spar International Hosts the Spar Transform Event to Boost Retail
Relaxing Personal Care Stores
The Bath & Body Works Gingham+ Store Design is Elevated
Modern Fashion Retail Expansions
Simons Expands with Two New Urban Stores in Toronto
Flagship Home Living Stores
Home Société Group Opens its Flagship at the Montreal Royalmount
Elevated In-Store Experiences
Bath & Body Works Adapts its Store Designs to Appeal to Gen Z
Refned Retail Boutiques
242 Mulberry in Soho Offers an An Eclectic Mix of Products
Chic Private Retailer Housewares
Macy's Arch Studio Home Collection is Packed with Essentials
Cashier-Free Grocer Expansions
Aisle 24 Continues to Expand in Canada Amid Success
Small Business Retail Spaces
IKEA Valencia Strives to Support Small Businesses with Free Space
Brazil-Inspired Charming Retail Spaces
FARM Rio Unveils a Store in London's Marylebone Village
Half-Sized Bread Products
Nature's Own Small Loaves are Ideal for Smaller Households
Small-Format Tech Stores
Best Buy Express Offers Curated Tech & Exclusive Telecom Services
Trendy Private Label Launches
Kroger Unveils a Variety of Elevated Options for its Private Label
Hardware Delivery Partnerships
Instacart and The Home Depot Partnered for Same-Day Delivery
Dynamic Light-Filled Retail Space
Josmo Opened Up a Contemporary Flagship Store in Mumbai
Mini Kitchen Solutions
Caraway Launches Mini Bakeware & Mini Food Storage Sets
Subtly Luxurious Jewelry Stores
Hollie Bowden Interiors Designs a Rachel Boston Flagship Store
Exploratory Art Exhibits
The Saga of the Department Stores Exhibit Explores Shopping’s Evolution
Updated Pet Store Concepts
Pets at Home Unveils New Interactive Screens at its Relaunched Location
Geo-Targeting Store Advertisements
Tesco Recommends Ads Based on a Shopper's Location in a Store
Same-Day Beauty Deliveries
Sally Beauty and Instacart Expanded Their Partnership with New Offers
Hybrid Shopping Ventures
Smartseller Unveiled an Integrated Concept at Nuremberg Airport
Small-Format Retailers
Nordstrom’s Small-Format Strategy 'Closer to You' is Expanding Until 2025
Multi-Vendor Food Marketplaces
Chef's Hall Offers Multiple High Quality Restaurants Under One Roof
Elevated Private Food Ranges
Bettergoods is the First New Store Brand from Walmart in 20 Years
24-Hour AI-Powered Stores
REWE To Go and Lekkerland SE Open Germany's First Autonomous Store
Autoshop-Transformed Skincare Boutiques
Bernheimer Architecture Designs New Malin+Goetz Store
Intuitive Store-Building Platforms
LaunchMyStore Helps Small Businesses, Sellers, and Dropshippers
Private Label Grocery Updates
Dollar General Adds New Products to its Private Label Brand
Cloud-Based Grocery Technology
Pricer Plaza Signs an Agreement with a Tier 1 North American Grocer
Efficient On-the-Go Stores
Parfetts Shop & Go Store Concept Responds to Consumer Demand
Mumbai Futuristic Fashion Boutiques
Sanjay Puri Architects Designs the Nezo Mumbai Showroom
Mobile Produce Markets
GROW-on-the-GO Nourishes Communities in Food Deserts
Checkout-Free Grocery Stores
ALDI Launches the Innovative 'ALDIgo' Checkout-Free Grocery Store
Digital Retail Mapping Solutions
Living Map Installs Screens at Metrocentre Shopping Centre
Interactive Store Hubs
The Samsung Experience Store at Scarborough is a New Hub for Tech Lovers
Sleek Cannabis Retail Stores
Jushi Holdings Expands Its Retail Cannabis Presence
Retailer-Opened Food Markets
The MUJI Food Market Opens its Doors in Chelsea Market in NYC
Convenience Retailer Private Labels
These New 7-Eleven Private Label Products are Value-Minded
Compact Urban Discount Grocers
This No Frills Grocery Store is Half the Size of Other Locations
Global Food Retail Expansions
Supermarket Italy Emphasizes Global Flavors from Around the World
Multi-Brand E-Commerce Expansions
Multiple Grocers are Adapting Instacart's Storefront Pro Tool
Experimental Cuboid Exhibition Spaces
Sār Unveils the Experimental Sār Residence by Girish Doshi
Advanced Retail Campaign Kiosks
Freeosk and Place Exchange Partnered for Integrated Campaigns
Eclectic Mall Food Halls
CF Toronto Eaton Centre is Set to Introduce Queen's Cross Food Hall
Skate-Inspired Retail Stores
The Nahmias Retail Store is A Tribute to Skate Culture in Venice
Private Label Plant Ranges
The Target Good Little Garden Range Has Over 60 Options
Functional Mushroom Product Expansions
Love Mushrooms Produce Organic Mushroom Wellness Products
Luxury Flagship Boutiques
Canadian Designer Ross Mayer Opens Boutique in Toronto's Yorkville
Retailer Bakery Product Expansions
These New One Stop Lines are Perfect for Picnics and Sharing
Retail Accessibility Frameworks
Starbucks Has Unveiled the Inclusive Spaces Framework
South African Delivery Launches
Shoprite Now Offers Online and Bulk Delivery for South Africans
Artist Loft-Resembling Stores
Tutto Bene Took on a New Retail Design Project in Angel, London
Expansive Child Product Ranges
The Latest Target Baby Products Will Come in Many Options
Beauty Retailing Expansions
Revolution Beauty Joins Amazon Distribution
Retail Food Expiry Tools
Gander Taps C-Store Collective to Launch a New Service Partnership
Ultra-Green Deadstock Stores
The Kisarazu Concept Store is Deeply Rooted in Sustainable Practices
Sophisticated Supermarket Sub-Brands
Asda Unveils its 'Exceptional' Brand for High-End Shoppers
Minimal Interior Sushi Restaurants
Future Simple Studio Designs the Sushibox Restaurant in Canada
Search Data-Based Furniture Lines
Primark Launches a New Pinterest-Inspired Spring Home Collection
Curated Vintage Decor Retailers
Vintage Beyond is Toronto's Newest Preloved Design Destination
Flexible Kitchen Rental Options
Maker Kitchens Teams Up with Blt Kitchens on Flexible Rentals
Metal Tower Residential Expansions
Modu Unveils the Mini Tower One Expansion in Brooklyn