Howerton and Hoch have both invested in a few startups--among them CohesiveFT and Storeplacer, a company that creates e-commerce storefronts on Facebook and mobile devices.

FORBES: Magazine Article

While more than 90% of retail is still in bricks-and-mortar storefronts, e-commerce retailers promise nearly unlimited inventory, fast delivery to customers' doors and lower prices.

WSJ: Tax-Free Web Shopping Nears End

Sure, a combination of e-commerce and a difficult economy have left many storefronts vacant, and certain verticals like record stores and local bookstores have been hit hard.

FORBES: Offline Shopping is Alive and Trampling