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Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby
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So I totally get that the squares feel like an outdated resort tourist shopping district. Like a line of stores you'd see on a cruise ship, where you can get your polyester-and-spandex cruise outfit in your choice of coral and white, turquoise and white, or coral AND turquoise and white. For $400 per outfit.
Fear not - us younger Boomers and GenX are starting to take over. Our interests are different than the older Boomers that are aging out, dying, being moved into nursing homes or assisted living. Our fashion sense is different, music interests are different. Our idea of "fun retro" products is also different. GenX brought us "foodies" and tons of innovation.
In other words, the demographics of the northern part of the Villages has been changing, and continues to change. What was here - was stuff that 60-year-olds wanted back in the 1970's and 1980's when it was first built. 40 years and a whole generation of people later, we 60-year-olds now - want different things. So those stores that have been around forever are slowly dying out. And hopefully all these GenXers who were so innovative and really understood how the world was turning, will start filling those vacancies with more affordable things that will keep us all interested until our generations are replaced by the next one.
So yes - Spanish Springs is feeling very - depressed these days, when there's no events going on. Even the Mercado is sadly underperforming. They really need to promote it better, and bring more vendors in. Even if it means lowering their spot prices. That might possibly just be a seasonal slump, we'll find out in November once all the snowbirders have been back for awhile.
I am really hoping some entrepreneurs with an understanding of GenX and even Millennials will open businesses in Spanish Springs. The Millennials are the children of the Late-Boomers and early GenXers afterall, and those are the people who residents will want to bring to the squares.
It's all marketing. I get the sense that the current iteration of the Developers' organization still hasn't caught up to the current demographics of the location they're trying to profit from. They are the children and grandchildren of the founders, and they've also lived here most of their lives. Perhaps they're not capable of seeing the width and scope of "who seniors ARE" these days.
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Fair points, but I think you miss a couple of factors of importance: The Developer is pretty much out of "developing" in the Spanish Springs area. Not totally, I admit, as the new efforts at the old Hacienda CC demonstrate, however, they are no longer building and selling entire neighborhoods up there. As a consequence they are no longer economically driven to provide any kind of entertainment or services in the Square with the idea of helping to sell homes. So, whatever goes into the commercial fronts at the Square will have to sink or swim on their own merits. Other than collecting rents, the Developer is not highly motivated.
2nd point: unlike 30 years ago when SS was first opened, there is a lot to find outside of TV, and it's no longer the only game in town.
So, as things continue to evolve, the Developer will likely, if it hasn't already started to happen, be forced to reduce rents, and commercial interests will have to find niches that work for the existing population.