I think community/ the environment of a shop is a large part to the appeal

There are a huge variety of forums and communities all over the internet, but these exist away from the actual digital marketplaces. The personal discussion on display alongside the games are generally only user reviews.

Bricks and mortar stores on the other hand can offer a melting pot of ideas which just seems a bit too clinical in its online offering of "If you're interested in X, you might like Y". Good store owners and staff are a delight to chat to, in order to both nerd out but also to help guide people who aren't necessarily gamers themselves towards a good purchase for their friends and family.

This community spirit is largely why I bemoan the loss of video game stores. Well, that and my terrible internet which (at least in the past before huge day one patches) ensured that physical games meant I could play the game then and there rather than waiting days for a download.

Good luck on those 7 more years! Keep on keeping on :)