Those stores tended to already have migrated to the edge of the city during the car era. If you're coming a long way the last thing you want is to drive into the city.
Not true. Sure, one of the largest shopping centers in Europe is south of Vienna now (has been there since 1976), but the street mentioned here was very accessible by car and people (including me) found it very comfortable to park in one of the public garages and go shopping there. There was also a large furniture store with its own pickup spot/garage ("Leiner", closed now after going broke).
Or they deliver, e.g furniture.