FrankT said:

Puggo - Jar Jar's Yoda said:
did Tatooine become a dead place only after the empire took over?

Actually I'd say that's about right. Darth Vader would know the planet; he could easily bring down restrictions on the businesses.

The Vader we meet in the original film doesn't seem to wield that sort of power. Remember, at least one official is openly contemptuous of him.

Stepping all over a local governor's toes, (outside of doing his job for the Emperor) would cause all sorts of questions to be asked.