But for Ms. Buzatto, standing in a dim hallway in the Phillipsburg Mall, it was a different scene. Next to Sears were rows of empty storefronts for retailers like Payless Shoes and Radio Shack, both of which have gone through bankruptcy.

The bleak scene was emblematic of the difficult challenges confronting many brick and mortar retailers, which are struggling to figure out how to survive Amazon’s seemingly unstoppable march to dominate the American wallet.

Analysts say retailers are expected to close more stores this year than at any time since the 2008 recession. The pressure from e-commerce, coupled with many retailers loading up on debt during better days, has led to a string of bankruptcies this year. Thousands of retail workers have lost their jobs. Overall employment in the retail industry has been declining since July — which economists say is highly unusual given that the economy is relatively strong.

All the ingredients are in place for a strong shopping season — low unemployment, a soaring stock market, and high consumer confidence. Holiday sales are projected to increase by as much as 4 percent from a year ago, to $682 billion, according to the National Retail Federation.

And yet these positive conditions come at a vulnerable time for many retailers, as they try to adjust their business model from a legacy of operating hundreds of stores in suburban malls to a more adept online operation.