Chapter 14 Commercial Interior Design Applications 497 Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Alexander Chaikin/Shutterstock.com Figure 14-14 Patron seating and eating areas—both indoor and outdoor—are part of restaurant facility design. How do these facilities comfortably accommodate guests without compromising safety? How do the circulation patterns benefi t patrons and staff? Pavel L Photo and Video/Shutterstock.com zhu difeng/Shutterstock.com Link to History The Evolution of Retail Shopping Prior to the late eighteenth century, store owners took little care in the appearance of their stores or the presentation of merchandise. Actually, very little merchandise was displayed within the store. Rather, a customer would enter the store and speak with the retailer, who would then present merchandise that was kept in a back room. Sales talk and an ability to persuade were very important in convincing a customer of the quality of a product and making a sale. The evolution in store design brought about a new process of shopping. It was no longer a verbal engagement between retailers and customers, but now a sensory experience. The fi rst step in the evolution of store design occurred when small stores began to display their merchandise openly to the public, instead of keeping it in back storerooms. Eventually, the deliberate display of goods became an important tool for retailers. The once unattractive stores that were not meant to visually appeal to consumers slowly became exciting shopping venues. Today, shopping can be done completely online or from a telephone to save time and money. Whether it is in a brick-and-mortar store, pop-up, or online, it is important that retail establishments offer a hassle-free and enjoyable experience for the consumer. Analyze It! Analyze the shopping habits of your class with a quick survey. Do your classmates shop more 1) online, 2) in a mall, or 3) at independent stores? Tally the results of your survey. Have you or your peers ever shopped at a pop-up store? Draw conclusions about why one shopping experience is more attractive today than another. How do these conclusions infl uence the design of retail interiors today?