During the show's offseason months I think they should replace the tie-in updates (Respectable Moe, etc) with old episode tie-ins.
I think you could easily make those non-holiday specific restaurants useful by tying in this episode:
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guess_Who's_Coming_to_Criticize_Dinner%3FBuildings: The Springfield Shopper
Character: News Editor. I know Ed Asner would be a long shot. Spend some money though EA :)
Skin: Food Critic Homer (who has tasks at Pimento, Chemistri, Zesty's, AsiadeCuba, Swanky Fish, etc)
Replace the Frenchman and eclair with Luigi and a cannoli. Viola, useful buildings again.