Hacienda County Club Restaurant

[Classic55]

I would like to suggest an opportunity may exist for the Villages Grown to take the next step in its business plan to open an organic grown exclusive restaurant in the Hacienda County Club facility. As many may know the Hacienda County Club restaurant has been closed for some time with a debate about future uses. I believe that many if not most in the Villagers are looking for healthier food choices, the Villages Grown is right there. For those of us living in the area of the Hacienda Country Club seeing that facility reopen would be welcomed. What a marriage made in heaven, a unique new idea of organic dining in that beautiful, underutilized facility. Could be the flagship for many more of the healthier restaurant facilities partnered with Villages Grown.

[vintageogauge]

If someone felt there was an opportunity to have a profitable restaurant there it would already have been opened. Organic is a tough sell and expensive. There are those that will eat nothing but organic but they are in the minority. The Villages Grow should get into beef it they want to become successful, they have the land, they have the stock, just need wholesale and retail distribution. A little organic food for thought.

[TomOB]

The Villages doesn't seem to care about the north end any more. Santiago, Katie Belle's, Hacienda all closed. All attention seems to be to the south where new homes are selling.

[Jayhawk]

The Villages doesn't seem to care about the north end any more. Santiago, Katie Belle's, Hacienda all closed. All attention seems to be to the south where new homes are selling.

Businesses don't shut if they are profitable. Maybe more customers would have saved them.

[vintageogauge]

The Villages doesn't seem to care about the north end any more. Santiago, Katie Belle's, Hacienda all closed. All attention seems to be to the south where new homes are selling.

Not as far as restaurants are concerned, there are a couple new ones that will be in Paddock Square but not much announced south of 44 yet.

[Mleeja]

The problem with Hacienda Hills CC building is it is in disrepair. From what I understand the roof structure needs replacing among other things. No one is willing to take on the expense of rehabilitation. I would be willing to bet a sleeve of Pro V 1’s this building will eventually be taken down.

[skip0358]

I heard the same from someone who was looking at it. A money bit for sure. Roof work alone would break the bank never mind interior renovation!

[davem4616]

I'm not sure who the actual owners of Village Grown are...my guess is that at some level the Morse family has a financial interest in it (if not backing the whole venture)

if that is true, I seriously doubt that they are interested in doing anything that will compete with the restaurants that are already in TV and are trying to reopen/survive

Frankly I'm disappointed that Village Grown seems to be evolving so slowly....

They have a lot of buildings, but it seems very little is actually being grown yet...

it appears that they have their hands full right now just trying to get off the ground and get their arms around doing what they've defined as their primary business..

hopefully once they hit full production the cost of their produce will become a little more reasonable

Organic is more expensive...but when you're able to grown 10 x's as much on the same area as field grown I'd hope prices will come down

but, I suspect that there will be a resistance to compete with the local farmers on a cost basis as that could ultimately drive those small family farms out of business

[Marathon Man]

The Villages doesn't seem to care about the north end any more. Santiago, Katie Belle's, Hacienda all closed. All attention seems to be to the south where new homes are selling.

Yea. People keep saying this. But the fact is, businesses need customers who are willing to spend money. That seems to be a problem with the areas north of 466.

And it is not "The Villages" that are closing shop. It is the business owners who are not making a profit.

[JoMar]

I'm not sure who the actual owners of Village Grown are...my guess is that at some level the Morse family has a financial interest in it (if not backing the whole venture)

if that is true, I seriously doubt that they are interested in doing anything that will compete with the restaurants that are already in TV and are trying to reopen/survive

Frankly I'm disappointed that Village Grown seems to be evolving so slowly....

They have a lot of buildings, but it seems very little is actually being grown yet...

it appears that they have their hands full right now just trying to get off the ground and get their arms around doing what they've defined as their primary business..

hopefully once they hit full production the cost of their produce will become a little more reasonable

Organic is more expensive...but when you're able to grown 10 x's as much on the same area as field grown I'd hope prices will come down

but, I suspect that there will be a resistance to compete with the local farmers on a cost basis as that could ultimately drive those small family farms out of business

As I understand it, The Grown works with the local farmers to help them grow. The Grown will help them market and find outlets and allow the farmers to do what they do best, farm. The Grown is not for The Villages exclusive use, in addition to providing product for our consumption and for the menu's of the local eateries, I understand they will sell into other markets as well, one person (yeah only 1 person) indicated they will market Nationally. At one of presentations I attended they said it would take a few years to approach the level they are looking for. If anyone knows differently please jump in.

[Chatbrat]

Must agree with the review of Village Grown, the produce doesn't appear to be top quality--the Admiral went once to see their mobile site, but bailed when she couldn't see what would be picked for her-how can anyone buy veggies sight & unseen and hope the person picking has a keen eye for quality

[Jayhawk]

Must agree with the review of Village Grown, the produce doesn't appear to be top quality--the Admiral went once to see their mobile site, but bailed when she couldn't see what would be picked for her-how can anyone buy veggies sight & unseen and hope the person picking has a keen eye for quality

So your comment is the produce "doesn't appear to be top quality" and your point of reference is One time your spouse went there AND BAILED when she didn't see the stuff.

Wow. Just wow.

:pray:

[Chatbrat]

Prior to the Airstream even, pardon: we went into the store in Brownwood-- the quality there wasn't impressive--I told her to not waste her time going to the Airstream, she went & when she came home she said "I was right a waste of time" Its nothing but play time for a member of the developers family, just like the Polo Fields and the Theater attached to Tiera Del Sol--used to love the theater, but since they moved away from interesting plays and have gone on to musicals--we're very selective on going back to Whitney's theater

[Jayhawk]

Its nothing but play time for a member of the developers family, just like the Polo Fields and the Theater attached to Tiera Del Sol

You spend your money your way and they spend theirs how they choose. No reason to tear it down with a negative review that had little to no basis.

[Michael Charles]

As I understand it, The Grown works with the local farmers to help them grow. The Grown will help them market and find outlets and allow the farmers to do what they do best, farm. The Grown is not for The Villages exclusive use, in addition to providing product for our consumption and for the menu's of the local eateries, I understand they will sell into other markets as well, one person (yeah only 1 person) indicated they will market Nationally. At one of presentations I attended they said it would take a few years to approach the level they are looking for. If anyone knows differently please jump in.

Yes TV Grown does pick up items from local & regional organic farmers.

Soon TVG will be growing organic produce right on FL 44.

They DO have contracts with ORLANDO HEALTH to supply certain organic items directly to them. Much of what they presently offer locally for sale is from those local farmers.

WHEN they are at full operation of growing, some of that product will be available here in TV BUT much will be filling the contracts for ORLANDO HEALTH.

Not many local restaurants can afford to purchase this produce then offer it on their menus without raising the prices out of the price point for most of us here in TV.

[Michael Charles]

Businesses don't shut if they are profitable. Maybe more customers would have saved them.

Exactly!

How does a business keep their customers?

Well, that's easy, offer a fair product/service at a fair price and treat them the way in which you would expect to be treated.

Voila!

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

I can’t understand why over and over in so many different threads people complain about closings, it’s very simple you close a money losing place , you keep open a money maker , why all the whining ? Have any of the complainers or there families ever kept a business going that was consistently lost money ?

[TimeForChange]

I also hope that someone will get interested and re open Hacienda Bar and Rest. Great old FL architecture and really a great location between Spanish Springs and Sumter Landing. I have heard well over $100,000 in repairs are needed. Doubt it will happen but I love the golf course and it needs a bar and restaurant. Good food, clean and great service will bring people just like Lopez after their renovation.

[hoopsterdad]

in conversation with a gentleman currently in the village's food business, it was looked into, kitchen much too small, and roof in need of repairs, just for starters. deemed to expensive to get into.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

If someone felt there was an opportunity to have a profitable restaurant there it would already have been opened. Organic is a tough sell and expensive. There are those that will eat nothing but organic but they are in the minority. The Villages Grow should get into beef it they want to become successful, they have the land, they have the stock, just need wholesale and retail distribution. A little organic food for thought.

It's a tough sell among the older Villagers who live for their preservatives and jarred sauces and mid-range chain restaurant fare.

But there is a whole new generation of people moving into the Villages now. They're not quite as "crunchy" as the generation that followed them, but they paved the way with their gourmet coffees and cruelty-free cosmetics and natural fiber clothing as a "trend."

Locavore dining is a thing, outside the Villages - especially in metropolitan areas. Organic dining has been a thing for years, outside the Villages. Seems to me the time has come for it to start making its way here.

I'm thinking it would -probably- do better in the southern half of the Villages, simply because of the new construction bringing in the most new residents.

My ideal would be to turn Hacienda Hills into something akin to a miniature indoor RiverWalk or Faneuil Hall. A dining area in the middle, surrounded by kiosks and small local food artisans. A lobster vendor here, a hotdog guy there, a salad guru, a soup and sandwich maven, etc.

So instead of one place having a huge menu, there'd be several places having limited menus. I could go one day for a falafel plate with humus and pita and tahini, and another day for a grilled pastrami and swiss on rye. And each would be authentically made.

[Northerner52]

Rather, the North didn't support it for whatever reasons.

The Villages doesn't seem to care about the north end any more. Santiago, Katie Belle's, Hacienda all closed. All attention seems to be to the south where new homes are selling.

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

Is this a joke or a dream of a Fanusl Hall guy

[thelegges]

I'm not sure who the actual owners of Village Grown are...my guess is that at some level the Morse family has a financial interest in it (if not backing the whole venture)

if that is true, I seriously doubt that they are interested in doing anything that will compete with the restaurants that are already in TV and are trying to reopen/survive

Frankly I'm disappointed that Village Grown seems to be evolving so slowly....

They have a lot of buildings, but it seems very little is actually being grown yet...

it appears that they have their hands full right now just trying to get off the ground and get their arms around doing what they've defined as their primary business..

hopefully once they hit full production the cost of their produce will become a little more reasonable

Organic is more expensive...but when you're able to grown 10 x's as much on the same area as field grown I'd hope prices will come down

but, I suspect that there will be a resistance to compete with the local farmers on a cost basis as that could ultimately drive those small family farms out of business

The Village grown game plan was always , Supplying fresh produce to all the assisted living, memory care. Then providing restaurants. If there was excessive produce then the public would be able to buy. Think of how much they save by growing their own.