Building multiple lot types in the same lot

I have built shops but for some reason sims like to gather together and talk more than they like to shop even when there's nothing else to do on the lot except shop. :lol: I would love multiple function lots and for the NPCs to show up and attend to their stations automatically. Meanwhile I use workarounds like placing free to eat pies in my bakery displays so that hungry customers can also eat there or setting up clubs to show up. Would be great if they could make it so we could have different functionality on different floors. I would love to be able to run a restaurant and maybe rent out the apartment space above it. Or maybe to rent only the restaurant space and not buy the entire lot.

I agree with @crocobaura that clubs can help with this. If the lot is set to one thing, create a club that focuses on the secondary function of the lot and have them meet there. It’s not perfect but it helps make the lot seem more alive despite not having multi-function capabilities in the game.

Agreed. I’ve been waiting for multi-purpose lots so my sims can live above retail shops, cafes, restaurants, spas, etc.

I've wanted this for so long, I have several started projects that I just don't feel like finishing because they should be different lot types but I know the game doesn't allow it so its basically pointless

It's not ideal, but as long as a lot meets all the different requirements, you can switch while your Sim is there.

Like I have a museum that's also a library and a cafe. Then my (not functional but cool looking) music studio is a cafe and a UBrite Commons. That way the hungry musicians can get a coffee or a meal. Just hide any of the requirements you don't want in the basement.

*Don't know if this may mess up restaurants, or retail stores as I haven't tried it. But I'll try that now.

Yupp, I've been hoping for a multiple categories feature, too. I preferred how TS3 handled this (IIRC) where functionality was set by a specific object and not lot category. When it was a rabbit hole building we could easily hide that object in the cellar if we wanted to create our own stuff or have multiple functions on the same lot.

I think TS4 could have recognized areas within a lot, I'd gladly fence/wall in the sections if that was required. A shopping mall could have wide arches and still feel like one thing even if each room had its own functionality.

It is possible to combine a few categories but it seems a bit like hit and go. I just turned the Waterside Warble karaoke bar into a restaurant, but kept some of the karaoke rooms. To my surprise several NPC visitors did sing karaoke. I expected it to be used only by my active sims, but there are probably no karaoke contests. In a bar I never saw any NPC guest use the karaoke machine I placed there. If we don't get a multi function feature, I'd like to see a list of what items/functions will work in what lot categories.