But the local goverment can prevent bars in strip malls, on strides with no walking or transit access.

The town needs to make the downtown walkable, and ideally accessable by walking. The rest is just local businesses buying / renting store fronts, may be a local pub, cafe, fruit stand, toy store ect.

Now maybe there is an overlap between what i considered a bar/pub and what those replying are calling a resturaunt since i want something like i have here in Madison NJ: a few pubs to get dinner and a pint 15min walk into town.. Yes this is at bar seating because im on my own.. But they all have dining rooms, and casual fare with much of the clients being families of all ages just having a meal in town.