The article presents dilemmas which currently occur in the field of planning of retail chain development in the cities of Poland and of the European Union Member States. These dilemmas are different. Activities taken up abroad towards "commercial revival" of city centres and towards reinvigorating trade and handicraft in rural areas have been examined. Besides, the nature and areas for dissemination of the so-called best European practices have been presented. Against this background, present-day problems associated with attempts to regulate the development of super- and hypermarkets in Poland have been demonstrated. Proposals to strengthen the information basis for analyzing the retail chain and for evaluation of consequences of large-area stores location have been given.