Even the budget stores seem empty -- Walmart, Target, dollar stores -- not to mention the department stores you are mentioning. Just two registers open at Walmart and about 15 ummanned (plus self check-out). Same at the grocery stores.

It's what you get when you destroy an economy with lock-downs, high government spending and inflation, and a shot that has caused a huge increase in both deaths and the working age disabled, leading to labor shortages. Small businesses can't get the labor and are having to cancel reservations.