The history of the big box
This Advertising Age article provides a historic perspective on "big box" discount stores:
Walmart, Target, Kmart, Kohl's Lead 50 Years of Retail Revolution: Shaking Up Retail Landscape, Big Four Discounters Reshaped Our Idea of Shopping
Walmart, Target, Kmart, Kohl's Lead 50 Years of Retail Revolution: Shaking Up Retail Landscape, Big Four Discounters Reshaped Our Idea of Shopping