In this evolutionary age of ever-expanding high technology and rapid growth of robotics, small- and medium-sized retail operations that comprise America’s hundreds of thousands of shopping centers may appear to be on the verge of extinction. Look again.

Amazon, innovated by intrepid founder Jeff Bezos, has turned the great multitude of small retailers comprising the neighborhood shopping centers on their ears by promising most products found in local centers — and shipping to the customer’s front door, often next-day.