Katie Belle's Tour + FAQs

[surething]

Went on the Katie Belle tour today and enjoyed seeing the changes. The dance floor appears to be smaller - now longer and narrower, but we were told it actually is the same square footage. The new menu was not yet available, but will be different. They handed out a FAQ which I will post here. They will be closed on Sundays (except special occasions). Will have a Happy Hour Wed. thru Sat 3:30 - 5:30 - all alcoholic beverages to be half price.

Entertainment will be for seated guests only. No standing guests during the shows.

They have created 2 distinct areas in the restaurant. One for dining and the other for shows. No cover in dining area. In the show area, they will charge a small cover charge. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, only one show. Your cover charge will enable you to stay for the entire show. On Fri. and Sat. night there will be 2 shows. You can purchase tickets for BOTH shows and stay all night. We were told each show would cost $3.00.

See you at the new Katie Belle's!

[asianthree]

Hoping for better food

[tomwed]

That sound great. Thank-you for sharing.

[chachacha]

thanks, Kathleen! i saw some pics which looked nice. however, i personally don't feel the atmosphere will ever be the same. i guess we will have to try it out on some wed or thurs night and see if we have fun :)

[mkl2238]

I was very disappointed in the new KBs. First of all, many people will not enjoy the steps. The line for the elevator could be quite long. The dance floor is a joke! It looks like fine dining to me; not a place you want to go for some drinks and dancing.

[MoeVonB61]

The only thing in life that's constant is change...

[Villager Dude]

I was there for the New Years Event. The food was good but I am not sure I am going to like the new format but am keeping an open mind. I always brought guests to KB at lunch and Dinner. I liked the old speakeasy concept. The jury is still out on the new concept. We will see.

Villagers will vote with their pocketbooks. No one will pay more money for the same food so I hope they have will improve it.

Happy New Year !

[bluedog103]

I too was disappointed with the new Katie Belles. The old KB's was just a fun place to go, especially with guests. Repeat visitors always wanted to go there. As another poster pointed out, it looks more like a fancy restaurant. Also, the popular Sunday Brunch is not returning.
I really expected a new, full size elevator but it still has the little dinky lift that used to shuttle diners to the Cattle Baron. Those stair are gonna be busy.

[starflyte1]

I wonder if they plan on making it the "to go" place before The Sharon. A bit upscale dining and then the show.

[TVMayor]

No Sunday Brunch and no lunch and the operator of the establishment is the same as before. The worst piece of beef I have ever had in my life was at KB topping the second worst in my life also served at KB.

I went on the tour and I was grateful for the opportunity to see the redesign of the building. It is nice but it is a shame they destroyed the original architectural work of art called Katie Belle's.

Katie Belle's is named after Mark Morse's great grandmother Katie Belle Schwartz.

The only thing that needed to change was management.

I will return when they turn KB into a Hooters Resturant.

[Jima64]

Pretty sure bad food will kill it off.

[justjim]

Didn't go (rainy, cold ugly day) watched football instead. Those that went appear negative. Usually there is a "method to their design"and the Developer is rarely wrong. We will go and see for ourselves. Time will tell---too bad no Sunday brunch.

[Mleeja]

From reading the post so far, there will be at least two that I will not have to compete with for reservations. I will certainly give KB's a opportunity to earn my dining dollars.

If the food is good and reasonaly priced, I and others will return. If not, maybe it will become a Hooter's, then who cares about the quality of the food???

[Bonny]

Actually several of my friends here in the Villages took the tour. All said it was beautiful. They posted awesome pictures on their Facebook pages.

[JoMar]

As with everything Villages, there are those that drink from the glass that is half full and those that drink from the glass that is half empty and those that don't want change. The good news for the business's is that there are 110K pocketbooks/wallets from which to draw so while KB may lose some, I believe they will gain new clientele. We took the tour, and love the new look.

[DonH57]

No Sunday Brunch and no lunch and the operator of the establishment is the same as before. The worst piece of beef I have ever had in my life was at KB topping the second worst in my life also served at KB.

I went on the tour and I was grateful for the opportunity to see the redesign of the building. It is nice but it is a shame they destroyed the original architectural work of art called Katie Belle's.

Katie Belle's is named after Mark Morse's great grandmother Katie Belle Schwartz.

The only thing that needed to change was management.

I will return when they turn KB into a Hooters Resturant.

Their sunday brunch was their only decent meal. It will be quite a wait for a Hooters to show up here in TV.:mad:

[tomwed]

Actually several of my friends here in the Villages took the tour. All said it was beautiful. They posted awesome pictures on their Facebook pages.
Have you seen the schedule?
Home Page (http://www.thevillages.net/katiebelles/)
It looks like the first show is $2 with a $10 min food order. The show is 1/2 hour long.
6:30PM 7PM 7:30PM
Is that correct?
That doesn't seem right. It sounds like half hour is not enough time.
Any thoughts?

[TVMayor]

Have you seen the schedule?
Home Page (http://www.thevillages.net/katiebelles/)
It looks like the first show is $2 with a $10 min food order. The show is 1/2 hour long.
6:30PM 7PM 7:30PM
Is that correct?
That doesn't seem right. It sounds like half hour is not enough time.
Any thoughts?
I see on KB web page they have tickets for General Public. It looks like the guy that checked ID at the door is out of work.

[Bonny]

Have you seen the schedule?
Home Page (http://www.thevillages.net/katiebelles/)
It looks like the first show is $2 with a $10 min food order. The show is 1/2 hour long.
6:30PM 7PM 7:30PM
Is that correct?
That doesn't seem right. It sounds like half hour is not enough time.
Any thoughts?
I think there is a schedule in today's paper.

[spring_chicken]

$27.50 for Donna and Dunning with dinner? You get choice of 3 entrees and there's no menu on the website to even let you know what your food choices are. Wow.

[applesoffh]

Pretty sure bad food will kill it off.

It didn't kill Katie Belle's! I'm pretty sure people go for the shows/dancing and not for the food, which was always pretty mediocre at best.

[theorem painter]

Katie Belle's is named after Mark Morse's great grandmother Katie Belle Schwartz.
.

Then who was Katie Belle VanPatten?

[Shimpy]

Deal breaker for me is no more Sunday brunches. They, in the past, lost business to Athens next door, but with Athens no longer there I would think they would do very well with their buffet brunch.

[jim1941]

I believe "Katie Belle" was Harold Swartz's mother.

[graciegirl]

I believe "Katie Belle" was Harold Swartz's mother.



I never met a Jewish mom named Katie. My daughter refers to me as a Jewish mother who is Catholic. This is probably not politically correct but meant warmly and kindly.

[rustyp]

Katie Belle is indeed Mark Morse's great grandmother. Here is an excerpt from a newsletter authored by Mark Morse early 1989.

"But we couldn't resist slipping in a real name here and there like The Katie Belle Saloon. It is named after my great-grandmother Katie Belle Schwartz. And, Grandad says his Mother would be proud to have a saloon named after her. Van Patton is also a family name and Banner Tailoring Company belonged to Great-Grandad "Papa" Schwartz until the Great Depression."

In the fiction story of how Spanish Springs was settled Katie Belle Van Patton is the wife of John Decker Van Patton of Jacksonville. John built the large hotel and saloon called The Van Patton House in 1851.The saloon fast became a magnet for dusty, sunburned cowboys, gamblers and the men who are fast becoming cattle barons in central Florida.

[rexxfan]

I'm fairly new to TV. I never went to the old Katie Belle's. What I saw on the tour was nice. I'll probably give it a try. Why complain about it at this point? It is what it is.
--
Bob C

[tomwed]

I'm fairly new to TV. I never went to the old Katie Belle's. What I saw on the tour was nice. I'll probably give it a try. Why complain about it at this point? It is what it is.
--
Bob C
You are new here.

[HoosierPa]

As with everything Villages, there are those that drink from the glass that is half full and those that drink from the glass that is half empty and those that don't want change. The good news for the business's is that there are 110K pocketbooks/wallets from which to draw so while KB may lose some, I believe they will gain new clientele. We took the tour, and love the new look.

I am really glad to hear you like it. I am going to assume the glass is half full until we see it and visit. I am sure we will love it !

[Skip]

Katie Belle is indeed Mark Morse's great grandmother. Here is an excerpt from a newsletter authored by Mark Morse early 1989.

"But we couldn't resist slipping in a real name here and there like The Katie Belle Saloon. It is named after my great-grandmother Katie Belle Schwartz. And, Grandad says his Mother would be proud to have a saloon named after her. Van Patton is also a family name and Banner Tailoring Company belonged to Great-Grandad "Papa" Schwartz until the Great Depression."

In the fiction story of how Spanish Springs was settled Katie Belle Van Patton is the wife of John Decker Van Patton of Jacksonville. John built the large hotel and saloon called The Van Patton House in 1851.The saloon fast became a magnet for dusty, sunburned cowboys, gamblers and the men who are fast becoming cattle barons in central Florida.

Harold Schwartz's mother was indeed Katherine (Katie Belle) Isabel [MN: Decker] Schwartz (1886-1979, Chicago, IL.). Married to Louis Schwartz (1881-1969), Harold's father.

Her parents were John & Jessie [MN: Storms] Decker. John Decker was a grocer in Chicago.

Skip

[2BNTV]

Another post where a business gets slammed before they open their doors!

How about let's waiting to see if the new changes are better or worse. It seems that changes were made from a business point of view because they were not making enough money.

The food was never great but you can say that about a lot of the restaurants in TV. Personally, I thing the Dunning and Moore show was always entertaining and I always paid about $30 per person to see it.

I'm sure there must have been patrons that didn't drink and had a coke or water and expected to be entertained. Hence, the changes.

Lets wait to see if the initial changes are permanent as in, they are trying something different.

[JoMar]

Another post where a business gets slammed before they open their doors!

How about let's waiting to see if the new changes are better or worse. It seems that changes were made from a business point of view because they were not making enough money.

The food was never great but you can say that about a lot of the restaurants in TV. Personally, I thing the Dunning and Moore show was always entertaining and I always paid about $30 per person to see it.

I'm sure there must have been patrons that didn't drink and had a coke or water and expected to be entertained. Hence, the changes.

Lets wait to see if the initial changes are permanent as in, they are trying something different.

:agree:

[jbdlfan]

We went last night for the friends and family event with Rocky and the Rollers. Food was good. They had some kinks but not a big deal. Prices were a bit high for TV. We will go back.

[Fred R]

By the way, has a new food establishment gone in at the corner there in Spanish Springs where the Italian place was?

[kilowatt]

We went opening night on Jan.6th and thought the food was an improvement over the "old Katie Belles". I had the chicken Parm which was very good along with a side of pasta(small) and broccoli. My wife had shrimp scampi which she said was "ok". Our friends had fetticini with shrimp and scallops which he said was excellent and was a very large portion. His wife had the salmon which she said was very good. The salad bar was excellent and the bread on the table was very good. All in all the food we thought was a good improvement. My one complaint was I would have liked Rocky and the Rollers for opening night or Cactus Jack to give it more of a splash and much more fun. The musician they had was ok and the crowd seemed more subdued than when the groups I previously mentioned performed. It was a good night out with friends which we enjoyed but I can`t wait till the end of the month when Rocky performs!

[cquick]

I was very disappointed in the new KBs. First of all, many people will not enjoy the steps. The line for the elevator could be quite long. The dance floor is a joke! It looks like fine dining to me; not a place you want to go for some drinks and dancing.

still only the one old elevator? And all the dining is upstairs? Again, a remodel at The Villages that is even MORE difficult for the disabled. Honestly, between the parking and the lack of cutouts from the parking lots to the sidewalks and the lack of sidewalks in The Villages, it's getting more frustrating.

[Bonny]

still only the one old elevator? And all the dining is upstairs? Again, a remodel at The Villages that is even MORE difficult for the disabled. Honestly, between the parking and the lack of cutouts from the parking lots to the sidewalks and the lack of sidewalks in The Villages, it's getting more frustrating.
What's the difference? There has only been 1 elevator since they opened back in the 90's. Why would it now be a problem? It was always a restaurant upstairs. Never been a problem.

[cquick]

you used to be able to eat downstairs, in the main part of the restaurant and Cattlemans was upstairs.

[dadspet]

The other difference that i observed on the tour is the beautiful curved wood stairway to the 2nd floor is gone and replaced by a sterile corner hallway stairway that looks more like a tenant stairway. Unless they were just ushering people for the tour thru some back way and another stairway exists someplace that I've missed.

[Annie01]

i heard they took down that beautiful staircase...and put up a one person wide one??? sad...what abut a fire exit...can't be the elevator...and the stairs???? or do we turn into toasties???? wonder how the fire inspector okay this ??!!?? is there a fire exit??? anyone know???

[Annie01]

loved cattle barons...it was the best !!! and that staircase was awesome....wide and pretty wood...sad they took that down !!!

[TVMayor]

i heard they took down that beautiful staircase...and put up a one person wide one??? sad...what abut a fire exit...can't be the elevator...and the stairs???? or do we turn into toasties???? wonder how the fire inspector okay this ??!!?? is there a fire exit??? anyone know???
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii199/The_Villages/Fire%20Exit_zpswja39us0.jpg

[Bonny]

i heard they took down that beautiful staircase...and put up a one person wide one??? sad...what abut a fire exit...can't be the elevator...and the stairs???? or do we turn into toasties???? wonder how the fire inspector okay this ??!!?? is there a fire exit??? anyone know???
No different than it was when they opened in the 90's. Staircase and elevator and a back staircase.