But, What About Now?
The best comparison would have to be of a strip mall, also known as shopping centers or shopping plazas.
Now, why? Well first, the baths, as mentioned before, provided a 'hot spot' that gathered the people of the town to one main focus; namely the baths. Around the baths would be vendors that would offer food and services.
At a shopping center, it is the same exact deal. Usually with a grocery store as the center attraction in the largest building on site, little stores and lcoally owned shops would agglomerate around that store.
Now, why? Well first, the baths, as mentioned before, provided a 'hot spot' that gathered the people of the town to one main focus; namely the baths. Around the baths would be vendors that would offer food and services.
At a shopping center, it is the same exact deal. Usually with a grocery store as the center attraction in the largest building on site, little stores and lcoally owned shops would agglomerate around that store.
As can be seen in the photos above, especially in the middle photograph, a large store/attraction (Sears) has been placed as the center focus with smaller stores popping up.
These agglomerations both happened because of the same universal reason: money-money-money. The small stands near the baths profited from the bath-goers, as is the same with the small-owner shops that were centered around larger stores. Almost like impulse items that have been placed close to the cashier area, these smaller stores would offer some services that the bigger attraction would usually not- karate lessons, a chiropractor, a deli offering the best sandwich and shake ever, etc.
The shopping plazas are also sprung up for economical purposes. The founders of the strip malls know that the small business would benefit from a main attraction to bring buyers to their area, where they can later ensnare the people into their shops. Therefore, another reason as to how these two things are similar is because they were set up for money.