It took me a while to realise what it was that bothered me, but yes there's a real lack of 'high street shopping' and markets type organisation from what I've seen in North America - instead drive to a big square ~car park~ 'lot' surrounded by 'big box stores'. Everything scaled up.

If you like it fine, can't really say either's objectively better, it's just really quite different and I suppose you likes what you grow up with or are used to.