Final answer:
The establishment from 1979 that used empty boxes to make the inventory seem greater is a warehouse, similar to those used by Amazon in its early days.
Step-by-step explanation:
The establishment described as opening in 1979 with a vast 60,000 sq. feet and empty boxes on shelves to make the inventory seem greater is a warehouse. This description is reminiscent of the early days of Amazon, which revolutionized the retail space by operating out of low-rent, highly computerized warehouses. Amazon, unlike traditional bookstores with costly retail locations, managed to keep low average costs per sale by leveraging economies of scale and advanced logistics.