Local economic development v. chain stores

I was reading this article about how Bloomington, IN wants to ban chain stores downtown to preserve community character. While I agree with this ordinance whole-heartedly, one part of the article stuck out to me.

"No organized opposition has emerged yet, but real estate professionals are expressing their concerns to Eric Stolberg, a downtown developer whom the mayor appointed to a study committee on the issue.

"I'm hearing from a lot of people that are scratching their heads and saying, 'Why do we even need this?'" Stolberg said."


This quote brings into focus the role of the city planner in local, economic development. A city planner needs to communicate to the public that chain stores not only destroy small-town character and whitewash its culture, but they also take money out of the local economy. Instead of having 100% of profits being put back into the local economy as is often the case with local, independently-owned stores, national chain stores' profits are redirected back through the headquarters, wherever that may be.

A question I am unsure how to answer though is this: why do people desire national chain stores? What do they offer that can't be had elsewhere?