Why do we see fast food and gas stations built instead of the “walkable cafés” developers visualize?

The Question: I see developers show pictures of beautiful cafés, but we end up with car washes and fast food. Why does that happen?

The Context: The City controls zoning (what can go there), but the market determines what actually opens. A boutique café or a specialty market needs a specific number of daily customers (“rooftops”) within a certain radius to pay their rent and staff. They also evaluate census data, economic data and leakage reports to evaluate their criteria and determine if there is demand to support their investment. If a developer builds a “walkable area” but there aren’t enough local residents to spend money there, those shops stay empty or become service-based businesses. This is why managed growth is a balance: you need enough residents to support the high-quality amenities the community wants.