Can You Take the Internet to the Corner Store?

Google Local is pestering me. They want to be a local connector for small businesses with AdSense, AdWords and the Local Business Center. "Hyper-local Marketing," it might be called. I'm thinkin' about it. Are you? I signed up the Chamber for a Local Business Listing. That was  easy. Now the hard part . . . is this a dream or a nightmare? Could it be a boon for local business, or a bust that gets in line after the Department Store, The Shopping Mall and Online Stores as the next assault on the neighborhood shop species of retailer? Let me know how you're doing with it. Are you listing? Are you getting customer referrals? Are you Yelping and Yahooing or cocooning and praying?