About 5 years ago, it was rumored that Costco and Macy's were to be the anchor stores at a mall to be built on the site of the Brownwood Hotel. Then we heard that Costco refused to build here. Stores like Costco, Sam's, WalMart, etc. operate on receiving huge discounts from manufacturers and they operate on very small markups and profits. For example, WalMart is believed to operate on 15% profit.
The problem with locating in TV is that retailer rent usually includes a percentage of the retailer's income. This makes the property owner (the Morses) a partner in the business and gives them the right to audit your books. No large chain or corporation will even consider the idea. However, franchise owners like Too-Jays, Flippers, etc. are individuals and can do what they like.
For well over 10 years, residents of TV have been trying to get Trader Joe's to locate here. No one doubts that TV would be a prime market for Trader Joe's. The last I heard was that upwards of 6,000 residents signed a "petition" to get a store here. Time after time, it was rebuffed. Finally, Trader Joe's management let the petitioners know, "Stop calling on us. We will never build a store in The Villages." It was the rent that forced them to take that position.
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