Sawgrass Grove Opening Soon!

[Oldragbagger]

Just returned from a great bike ride on one of our beautiful nature trails down here to find this waiting in my inbox. We have been anxiously awaiting this news. Just one of SO MANY reasons why we love living south of the 44.

https://youtu.be/PxYGjRxGjLU

[Altavia]

Very innovative and a great addition to the Villages.

[Oldragbagger]

Very innovative and a great addition to the Villages.

Since it will have the only entertainment venue that is shaded I think it will be very popular, especially in the hotter months.

[Tvflguy]

Rcvd an email today from The Villages with a link to a Developer video re Sawgrass. Yikes it looks so wonderful. Great job. It will be a huge hit for the Southern area. I’m jealous but will definitely visit.


The Villages - Florida's Friendliest Active Adult 55+ Retirement Community (https://www.thevillages.com/whatsnew/continuing-the-dream/the-market-at-sawgrass-grove)

[Rainger99]

It has been "coming soon" since last fall.

[Bogie Shooter]

It has been "coming soon" since last fall.

So?

[Papa_lecki]

I think the residents have been the rumors of when it’s opening.
The video today is from the developer - they actually said days. Wonder if a soft opening will happen this weekend since many will be distracted with the holiday.

[vintageogauge]

It's good that the opening is after the winter residents left as it would have been crazy in there. They should pretty much be prepared for larger crowds after a few months, maybe they planned it that way. It is something that was needed down here and will be a huge success.

[Dotneko]

Cant wait! We peeked in the windows just yesterday and it looks super.
We desperately need a coffee shop, pizza place, fresh vegs and ice cream down here below 44. Everything is a 15 minute golf cart ride now at a minimum.

[thelegges]

Employees will be the key of opening, and hours of operation, just like any other business in TV. The franchise people will be in house, because it’s their money in jeopardy.

[Marathon Man]

Another new and exciting addition to the southern area. More coming. So glad that we decided to re-locate here.

[Garywt]

Just returned from a great bike ride on one of our beautiful nature trails down here to find this waiting in my inbox. We have been anxiously awaiting this news. Just one of SO MANY reasons why we love living south of the 44.

https://youtu.be/PxYGjRxGjLU
The good thing about the Villages is we can all enjoy everything no matter where we live.

[Garywt]

Cant wait! We peeked in the windows just yesterday and it looks super.
We desperately need a coffee shop, pizza place, fresh vegs and ice cream down here below 44. Everything is a 15 minute golf cart ride now at a minimum.

15 minutes is nothing.

[richdell]

Hopefully, there will be enough workers available. Otherwise, it will have limited hours like McGrady's.

[Woodbear]

Workers were planting the landscaping and removing most of the fencing around the area today. It looks really nice.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I guess it depends on what your definition of "soon" is. According to another source it's going to be a while. As thelegges they're having trouble getting employees.

[Chi-Town]

The Market at Sawgrass Grove seems similar to the Plant Street Market in Winter Garden. Looking forward to it.

[Dusty_Star]

I wonder if they will open this coming weekend?

[billethkid]

Rcvd an email today from The Villages with a link to a Developer video re Sawgrass. Yikes it looks so wonderful. Great job. It will be a huge hit for the Southern area. I’m jealous but will definitely visit.


The Villages - Florida's Friendliest Active Adult 55+ Retirement Community (https://www.thevillages.com/whatsnew/continuing-the-dream/the-market-at-sawgrass-grove)

It will also become the spot to go to get out of the heat and walk around in the AC!!!!

While I wish it all the successes....I think about the logistics and lines to purchase or waiting for a seat.....this will "initially" become a very likeable place to go.....and they will come!!!

[Papa_lecki]

It will also become the spot to go to get out of the heat and walk around in the AC!!!!

While I wish it all the successes....I think about the logistics and lines to purchase or waiting for a seat.....this will "initially" become a very likeable place to go.....and they will come!!!

Agree - they should have put large outdoor seating someplace, covered with large trees (i.e. Ednas).
This will be popular

[Dotneko]

15 minutes is nothing.

And 2 minutes is better.

[spk7951]

Hopefully, there will be enough workers available. Otherwise, it will have limited hours like McGrady's.


11-9 Wednesday thru Sunday is limited?

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

11-9 Wednesday thru Sunday is limited?

How many restaurants that you know of are not open seven days a week? I can think of Chick-fil-a and that is for religious reasons.

[Tom&JenC]

Just returned from a great bike ride on one of our beautiful nature trails down here to find this waiting in my inbox. We have been anxiously awaiting this news. Just one of SO MANY reasons why we love living south of the 44.

https://youtu.be/PxYGjRxGjLU

As great as everything looks, I'm most excited about real actual bagels!! They only show them for a second but they look like the real thing!!

[thelegges]

As great as everything looks, I'm most excited about real actual bagels!! They only show them for a second but they look like the real thing!!

Owner is bringing them in from New York, but no mention on which supplier he is using

[Rainger99]

The food hall is “supposed” to open on July 13.

No word on when the entertainment square opens but I hear it will be soon.

[UpNorth]

Looks pretty much like every shopping mall food court I've ever seen. I guess it's a "big deal" when nothing else is around.

[vintageogauge]

Looks pretty much like every shopping mall food court I've ever seen. I guess it's a "big deal" when nothing else is around.

Most mall food courts don't have a bar or a butcher shop but they do have a lot of teenagers hanging out in them which this will not have, it's different than any I have seen and it is a "big deal" and would be no matter where they put it. TV tries a lot of new ideas south of 44 and so far all have been a huge hit with the exception of parking for Putt & Play.

[Timothyimitchell]

Those big beautiful brown tree branches are now bright white

[Kenswing]

Those big beautiful brown tree branches are now bright white

I’m guessing it’s a primer coat.

[Barbscats]

“Real” bagels can be found at Brooklyn Bagels on 441. Made fresh daily along with spreads, rugelach,
black and white cookies and muffins. It’s located at the end of the strip where Best Buy is located.

[MrChip72]

Owner is bringing them in from New York, but no mention on which supplier he is using

Makes me wonder if most people would notice the irony of having a bunch of "farm to table" locally sourced places beside a place that's trucking in bagels from NY which can be made fresh quite easily. Lots of bagel shops all over the US that make fresh bagels onsite all day and are under 300 sq ft.

[Stu from NYC]

Owner is bringing them in from New York, but no mention on which supplier he is using

Are you sure? Thought they were home made.

[asianthree]

Are you sure? Thought they were home made.

I watched the Sawgrass vmail also and agree with thelegges. If you listen he states

“We are going to have authentic New York bagels shipped down”

Didn’t say ingredients, or New York Water, shipped down. I took his statement as bagel being shipped down. Growing up once our bagels were past the boil stage, what wasn’t baked went in the fridge, that could be baked later. Maybe that’s how they will arrive.

In my past it was always believed that if it wasn’t made in NY it couldn’t be a NY bagel, just a knock off made elsewhere :rant-rave:

[M2inOR]

Those French Fries aren't from France. And that New York Strip Steak isn't from New York either.

As far as New York bagels are concerned, both good and bad bagels can be found in New York.

I'm looking forward to the market at Saw Grass, and am hoping the offerings are great. McGrady's has turned out to be excellent, too, so far. Gives me hope.

[Villager-Wannabe]

Here is a link to a picture and detailed information about the canopy structure and membrane material.

Sawgrass Plaza Canopy - Big Span Structures (https://bigspans.com/?big-span-portfolio=sawgrass-plaza-canopy)

[coffeebean]

As great as everything looks, I'm most excited about real actual bagels!! They only show them for a second but they look like the real thing!!

What about that bagel place on 441/27 that is all about the Brooklyn water? Those bagels are delish. They re-create the water from Brooklyn to make their bagels. Have you tried them?

[JMintzer]

What about that bagel place on 441/27 that is all about the Brooklyn water? Those bagels are delish. They re-create the water from Brooklyn to make their bagels. Have you tried them?

They "re-create" the water?

[Timothyimitchell]

They "re-create" the water?

Will there be nightly entertainment as the other 3 squares provide?
That type of venue is obviously very popular in The Villages.
Here's hoping so.

[TrapX]

Will there be nightly entertainment as the other 3 squares provide?
That type of venue is obviously very popular in The Villages.
Here's hoping so.

There has been vague announcements saying there should be entertainment, but not every day, and might not be in the evening, and might not be music.
It was very clear that it is NOT a square, and don't expect things to happen like the other squares.

[Altavia]

There has been vague announcements saying there should be entertainment, but not every day, and might not be in the evening, and might not be music.
It was very clear that it is NOT a square, and don't expect things to happen like the other squares.

They've invested a lot of money for the facility so no doubt it will be used. Will be interesting to see how.

Does the County fund entertainment at the squares? If so maybe look for an increase in that budget (or not) for Sawgrass.

[M2inOR]

We have high hopes for Sawgrass. We've been to McGrady's and really like it.

We stopped by the market yesterday afternoon. Some observations:
+ Golf shop is very nice
+ quite noisy and echo-y inside
+ there was a musician playing and singing, but acoustics aren't good at all

People seemed to be having a good time. Packed, but not overly crowded.

Barriers still blocking the to-be-covered area in front of the stage.

[RPDaly]

---

[JSR22]

IMO, It looks like the parking will be too little when the square opens and that looks smaller than Brownwood. The Food Hall too looks kind of small. With all that space to work with they could have made it all larger to accommodate the growing population it will serve. Don't see the room needed for even a market night never mind special holiday events which Sumter Lake and SS holds
It was not intended to be a square. It as a small eating and entertainment venue. The next square will be Eastport in a few years.

[Timothyimitchell]

It was not intended to be a square. It as a small eating and entertainment venue. The next square will be Eastport in a few years.

Mcgradys is really nice. Sawgrass bar is nice also. The food venues jus.t OK. At least there are options. We shall see moving forward how the entertainment options pan out. The people down south overall are younger and like to play.

[coffeebean]

They "re-create" the water?

Yes. There is a sign at their establishment that states they re-create the Brooklyn water using certain minerals and what ever else they need to put in the water to make it taste and act like the water in Brooklyn to make their bagels. My best guess is that the hardness of our water here must be dealt with to make those delicious bagels but that is just one aspect of using that delicious NY water.

[JSR22]

Yes. There is a sign at their establishment that states they re-create the Brooklyn water using certain minerals and what ever else they need to put in the water to make it taste and act like the water in Brooklyn to make their bagels. My best guess is that the hardness of our water here must be dealt with to make those delicious bagels but that is just one aspect of using that delicious NY water.
Honestly, I think it is a gimmick. Their bagels are very good, but do not taste like an authentic NY bagel.

[asianthree]

Yes. There is a sign at their establishment that states they re-create the Brooklyn water using certain minerals and what ever else they need to put in the water to make it taste and act like the water in Brooklyn to make their bagels. My best guess is that the hardness of our water here must be dealt with to make those delicious bagels but that is just one aspect of using that delicious NY water.

Their method of recreating water for me doesn’t come close to NY bagels, but that just 20 years of eating Bagels from NY. Lox on the other hand is becoming easier to find good quality, at military commissary.

[JSR22]

Their method of recreating water for me doesn’t come close to NY bagels, but that just 20 years of eating Bagels from NY. Lox on the other hand is becoming easier to find good quality, at military commissary.

I wish I could get a NY Bagel, Belly Lox and Chive Cream Cheese! I am drooling!

[coffeebean]

Their method of recreating water for me doesn’t come close to NY bagels, but that just 20 years of eating Bagels from NY. Lox on the other hand is becoming easier to find good quality, at military commissary.

I ate NY bagels for many years, growing up on Long Island, but I honestly don't remember that they taste any different than the Brooklyn Bagel place on 441.

[JSR22]

I ate NY bagels for many years, growing up on Long Island, but I honestly don't remember that they taste any different than the Brooklyn Bagel place on 441.
Brooklyn bagels are doughier and the crust is not the same.