Just look at Tokyo as an example of what a city organically grows into. Every major transport hub is filled with shopping and food. NYC is abit the same way. I like it. People generally don't like living right next to transportation hubs, so why not make those areas commercial space.

Everyone likes having many options for dining, so that's the main draw. Dining naturally has waiting, so why not have shopping for waiting diners to kill some time and even act as buffer space between dining options. Movie theaters and museums are great before/after meal activities. Throw in some office space so there's weekday/daytime business for restaurants and better utilization of parking and transportation.

Now you've created a place where people want to be that's convenient to get to. That's what a city is, isn't it? Just without the typical city drawbacks like crime, trash, vehicles, pollution, and homelessness.