But the article points out that a major input into this system is the valuation of properties by banks, which prefer to see corporate renters. It seems possible

But the article points out that a major input into this system is the valuation of properties by banks, which prefer to see corporate renters. It seems possible, at least, that a corporate landlord may, because of this, prefer to push out an individually-owned renter in the hopes of securing a corporate renter, because the property valuation by the banks will then increase. This would be immune to the popularity of the individually owned shop, so immune to an actual demand signal. In other words, it's not the customers, it's the banks and the corporations who own the buildings.