I recently made an observation about this country's businesses and their lack of imagination in just "how" to draw customers into their stores.  We hear the lamenting that no one is shopping and spending out there.  Well, it may have more to do with other issues than "money."  There is a tremendous population of those who are 50 plus in age.  Most of us don't have the energy and stamina that we once had.  Shopping just for groceries is exhausting, and when we arrive home, we have to put them away before we can sit down and rest a bit.  As age creeps up on me, I've found that I seem to be looking around for a bench to sit on or a comfortable chair.  In large shopping malls, there are benches scattered throughout the malls....usually filled with other tired shoppers....however, if we leave that area to shop at other smaller malls or stores, they are just not very customer friendly.  There are few cozy resting places with benches or tables....and, when we DO find a store that has them, the employees occupy them for a much earned break for a soda or a cigarette. I believe if this area was absolutely loaded with clean benches in shady, comfortable locations in front of stores, that more people would see shopping less of a chore and more of a nice place to be.  As a diabetic, my legs are not very strong, and I tire easily.  I've found that I frequent stores that make distasteful chores easy by providing a place to rest my legs and renew energy so that I can shop longer.  If the stores are worried about vagrants, put the benches in a cozy, easily accessible spot inside the store.  I like customer friendly businesses.  How about you?