While looking at a business map of 63rd Street from Cottage Grove to Stony Island in the 30s, I counted fifteen shoe stores, eighteen drug stores, 22 millnery/hoisery shops and four florists. There's also numerous meat markets, mens clothing shops and bakeries. Some stores selling the same things were across the street from each other, some were right next door. They all seem to be separate, distinct businesses, too.

My question: back in the day when small stores were the norm, were they so specialized that you'd patronize more than, say, one butcher shop?