My local store sells things for the same price as their website. Only difference is, if there's a coupon code, I can't use it. Sales tax is really the only added cost, and that often balances out against shipping costs. He is about 40m away tho, so there is the gasoline involved, but I refer to that as a convenience tax and know that I will never have to wait for USPS if I get in a pinch.
I don't consider mall kiosks to be local stores tho. And they've usually got a lot more overhead which is reflected in their prices. A good local store it seems to me is usually started by someone that had been selling online for some time and reached a point where the market justified opening B&M. I am sure vendors track where their orders come from and if they see a lot of people in their city or near by ordering (yes, you do pay sales tax ordering in state, but shipping is quicker, so convenience tax again) then they can say "Well, there's a local demand, so lets open a store). I know a lot of cities have strip malls with store fronts sitting empty and probably good affordable rent.
Okay enough rambling.

Meh, I need to finish up my run though of the forum and get over to Star Wars Weekends and see what they have that I want but should't buy. (But probably will

)