[PJOHNS2654]

Originally Posted by rustyp

Close - your are only off about ten years

I first went there in 2003.

[tomwed]

Originally Posted by rustyp

Close - your are only off about ten years

What year did it open?

[bluedog103]

Originally Posted by vrebomike

Katie Belles was the place I brought all my guests to really show them how much fun we had in The Villages. No longer!

We used to take guests to Katie Belles too. On return visits they would most always want to return to KBs. The original Katies was unique. The new one, even though the food may be better, is just another place to eat.

[Bonny]

Originally Posted by rustyp

Close - your are only off about ten years

Spanish Springs Square didn't even open until 1994.

[2BNTV]

Originally Posted by Bonny

I think Katie Belles opened about '97

Bonny is right!!! I googled it.

Let's Hear Big Howdy For Katie Belle's - tribunedigital-orlandosentinel

[tomwed]

Originally Posted by Bonny

Spanish Springs Square didn't even open until 1994.

Have you ever seen a timeline when things were built in TV? I've done a little poking around and came up empty except for generalizations.

[HoosierPa]

We are new Owners in TV. Like most of you, we visited KB a few years ago before we bought and really liked it. It was a lot of fun and unique and more of a night club atmosphere. I am really disappointed that it has closed (and reopened as a different type of place under the same name.) BUT if the Owners were losing money by keeping it open as it was, I do not blame them a bit for trying something different. In reality, night clubs generally have a much shorter life span than the good run the old KB had.

[Bonny]

Just saw another site that the Van Patten Building was built in 1991 but the square didn't open until 1994. I know some of the people that started working there when they opened. I'll have to ask them.
I know we were here in 1999 and they wore those big old time dresses that had to weigh 50 pounds and spats. It was pretty cool.
A few years later they used to do $1.00 burgers then it went up to $1.25 on Tuesdays. We'd get a big group out on the patio. Penny and a couple of others would come out on roller skates. That didn't last long. LOL
After we would go upstairs, get a drink and shoot pool.
We loved Tuesdays.

I remember when the drink huts were model T trucks. Needless to say, when it rained, they closed them up.

[Bonny]

Originally Posted by tomwed

Have you ever seen a timeline when things were built in TV? I've done a little poking around and came up empty except for generalizations.

Same thing I was finding.

[rustyp]

Originally Posted by Bonny

Spanish Springs Square didn't even open until 1994.

Your right - I'm wrong. I got my dates messed up. 1988 is when the Morse family started to expand across the highway. As near as I can figure out it must have taken about eight years. I have documentation that Spanish Springs Brewery, Augustine's, Augie's Tap Room and Bichara's Bakery opened Oct 1996. I don't have a firm date on Katie Belle's. I suspect before 1996 by a little.

[asianthree]

Since we eat dinner at 8 o'clock no matter where we go there's not much of a crowd. Have been to Katie belles twice since 2007 we will try again. Not a fn of dinner and a show

[Bonny]

Katie Belles opened just about 1997. It was Katie Belles up & down.
After a couple of years, the upstairs was called the "Key Club". It was still Katie Belles, but residents only. Same menu as downstairs.
About 2001 or 2002, they tried to transform the upstairs as more of a club. "Cattle Baron" would now be more of a private club. There was a fee to join & you had to spend so much money per month. That was short lived so they changed it to just more of a fine dining for residents.
Of course, during these times, we lost our pool table upstairs. There were various changes to the downstairs throughout the years. They took part of it for Chicos, took the railings down around the dance floor, etc.

We've seen so many changes. I remember when we would go to the seafood buffet at Hacienda Hills CC. The best ever. You had to wear a sport jacket to go there.

[kilowatt]

It is just another place to eat, the old Katie Belles was unique. This different format will possibly make them more money but time will tell. You have to get out in two hours and that`s sad. I`m just starting to get warmed up and enjoying the music and dancing. I know, you can make a double reservation, whoopi-do!

[JoMar]

Originally Posted by kilowatt

It is just another place to eat, the old Katie Belles was unique. This different format will possibly make them more money but time will tell. You have to get out in two hours and that`s sad. I`m just starting to get warmed up and enjoying the music and dancing. I know, you can make a double reservation, whoopi-do!

Why wouldn't you make a double reservation if that's what you enjoy...why leave when you are warmed up and enjoying the music and dancing?

[kilowatt]

I did make a double reservation. The point is it`s just another act of greed by The Villages. I will spend the extra money for our enjoyment but I don`t have to like it.