No List until choose category from Select Menu?

Hello,

I was wondering whether it is possible to just have the select (dropdown) menu of categories visible until an item has been clicked, so once a 'category' has been selected you would then see a list of places? So the important function I am after is for there not to be a list or map of any places until a category has been selected.

The reason for this is I am trying to create a 'find a store' across all different locations across the world, I don't want a list of every store in the world when the location page first loads, but I do want a list to load when a location is selected. Hope that makes sense.

Many thanks,
Daz