The team really needs to make multifunctional lots a reality in this game. The gallery features many builds that are set up for this type of gameplay: restaurants, retail and bars all on one lot.
I would like to live above a record store or coffee shop and still have retail sales on that lot.
edit: You can live above all these shops and you can have a working cafe below your apartment but the cafe is only for the sims that live on that lot and their visitors. The difference is these lots are not open to the general sim world.
I would like a Retail/Residential or Restaurant/Residential Lot type in my game where you can run a business below and live above.
For Rent already has a system in place for zoning different areas(rental units) on a lot.