Following is a listing of some of the nation's most popular stores as well as the number of specialty retailers stretched across the country.

Top Retail Stores in the U.S.
Store Number of
Stores In Chain
Target 1313
Sears 3473
Home Depot 930
Albertson's 2492
Kmart 2171
Kohl's 638
JC Penny 4075
Safeway 1659
Costco 302
CVS 4098
Walgreen 2821
Federated 403
Pep Boys 662
Rite Aid 3804
Burlington Coat Factory 282
PetSmart 484
Musicland 1345
Michaels 654
Smart & Final 218
Big 5 240
Brookstone 225
Circuit City 629
Discovery Channel Stores 132
Electronic Boutique 740
Kay Bee Toys 1300
Museum Company 95
Pottery Barn 135
Sharper Image 100
Store Number of
Stores In Chain
Zany Brainy 188
Imaginarium 39
Best Buy 357
Toys 'R' Us 1548
Gap 3018
Circuit City 616
Office Depot 857
Staples 1129
Dillard's 342
Saks 359
CompUSA 211
7-Eleven 5669
Nordstrom 104
Office Max 946
Blockbuster Video 7153
BJ's Wholesale Club 107
Radio Shack 7186
AutoZone 2717
Ames 454
Longs Drug Stores 416
Barnes & Noble 1473
Spiegel 532
Sherwin-Williams 2396
Borders Books 1204
Payless Shoes 4712
Nieman Marcus 42
Ross Stores 378
   
  
Number of Small to Medium Sized Businesses in the U.S.
Type of Business Number of Stores
art galleries
17825
auto dealers new
23087
auto dealers used
71242
auto parts and accessories
35731
auto radio and audio
4307
baby accessories
1063
backpacking supplies
115
baseball card dealers
3957
bicycles
5964
book dealers
16826
book dealers used and rare
4339
boots
730
bowling apparel
949
candy
6642
children and infant clothing
7129
comic books
1850
computer software
37428
convenience store
71823
cookie
1784
craft galleries
 2990
craft stores
6088
dolls 1564
electronic supplies
10492
fishing supplies
6238
florists
44514
food markets
5372
food products retail
721
game and game supplies
1371
Type of Business Number of Stores
gift baskets
4454
gift shops
51005
golf supplies
4234
greeting card
2994
handbags
776
hats
876
health and diet
15840
hobby and model supplies
 3863
home improvement
19267
jewelers
38404
lawn and garden supplies
2285
leather goods
1098
luggage
1468
mail-order catalogs
5230
maternity
1016
men's clothing
11329
museum
7241
music stores
10337
musical instruments
6257
office supplies
7928
pet stores
10244
shoes
25749
shoes orthopedic
280
snowboards 334
sporting goods
15643
square dance
73
sunglasses
2067
swimwear
1063
toys
5637
trophies and awards
4258
watches 1013