Why would Maxis do that? You can go on regular dates anywhere, why would it be only in this situation...... Grrrrr. I really didn't want to attach a downtown or shopping dstrict - trying to keep the number of Maxis townies to a minimum.
On the plus side, the 'downtownies' are usually a lot better looking than the regular townies. And without a downtown, you don't get the vampires, or the very rich Diva and Mr. Big -- handy for those fortune sims who want to 'marry a rich sim'.