Not that I know anything about opening a boutique audio store, but you could potentially open something (even a home compartmentalized area) with appointment only and focus on people that aren't listening and then buying on internet.Really that would be awesome to go to one of those places in person. I live in Fl its like HiFi doesnt exist here. No stores anyway I have been toying with the idea of opening one somewhere but no idea how market would respond to it as every person I have told to date that I spent $1200 on a pair of headphones thinks Im outta my mind and thats before I tell them bout the $1800 pair and the AMPs and DACs and cables and power conditioners haha. And now tubes on top of that. I dont know it sure would be awesome to run a HiFi audio store but Id prolly have to move to Orlando to get a bigger audience.
Agree though that startup and the margins needed to make it worth it would seem tough.