Will Shopping Streets in Small Towns Ever Thrive Again?

With shopping streets in small towns struggling due to online shopping and the rise of big-box stores, I’ve been wondering if they can ever really bounce back.

Has anyone come across any interesting community-driven projects that’ve helped breathe life into these areas? I’m especially curious about creative ideas like turning empty shops into event spaces, pop-up shops, or cultural activities.

What have small towns done to make their high streets more appealing again? Any examples of places where things have actually worked? Would love to hear about any successful efforts whether it’s about repurposing spaces or just getting people to return to the town centre.