Retail "Clumping"

In Korea it is common to see retail stores in the same category clumped together on the same street or in the same area.

From outdoor gear to pet shops to electronics, you can often find the same types of stores bunched together.

Clearly this is nice for consumers who want to comparison shop, but I have often wondered at the frustration the first store might (must?) feel when competitors start piling in.

Here's an example:

If you look at the store signs on the left side of the pic, just above the guy with the light-blue and black jacket, you can make out the New Balance shoe store sign.

(Click on the above picture to enlarge it.)

Then, moving to the right, there is Reebok, and next is Adidas.

Around the corner is another shoe store, though I forget which one.

This 'clumping' is also true for food: chicken restaurants, seafood restaurants, etc.

This tendency clearly isn't unique to Korea, but it seems more pronounced here, for better or worse.

Mostly better, I think.