Is it really that busy south of 466A???
 

Third group that my husband has played golf with this week is very unhappy they moved south of 466A.....Sooooo crowded, grocery lines 10 deep, golfing is very very difficult and golf range is impossible....I hope this is just seasonal problem.

Very interested in responses as we move to Collier in April. Hopefully it is just because it is all new.

Grocery lines ten deep is a gross exaggeration. It could be that these golfers don't know how crowded it is everywhere in TV right now. Tell them to move to North Jersey and then tell us how crowded TV is! Or hop over to the Gulf Coast, or down to Fort Myers.

Geeze.

I know they are not talking about Sweet Bay 'cause there are never that many people in there. Now Publix at Colony Plaza does get very, very, very crowded, but they have
almost all lanes open and there really isn't a problem checking out. The problem is finding a parking spot and negotiating the store with ALL those shoppers and the employees trying to keep the shelves stocked. It is seasonal, but with build out seasonal may be the new normal.

Maybe pick a different time to shop?

Isn't there another Publix in the works on Powell Rd between 466A and 44? Can anyone confirm and does anyone know if it will be cart accessible?

Yes and yes. Plans for the Publix and adjacent stores were shown in a previous post. It's just west of Brownwood/Paddock Square town center. Golf cart accessible. Site work is underway so it should be open in time for next year's snowbirds.

We are South of 466A and it it AWESOME !!!!!!

Sure there are crowds, some time more than others. But it is vibrant and exciting. So many new folks who love it and are inviting and friendly.

No reason to let a few extra folks cause any heartburn. I don't know about the rest of you, but we were new here once, adding to the crowds :laugh:

It's not that crowded. 10 deep at Publix is way wrong. Never ever that bad in the store. At worst 1 person ahead of you.

IF their complaint has to do since the 1st of the year...well folks it's the seasonal people who make things busy! I would think these folks knew when they purchased that this community was going to be 100k or better at build-out! Where exactly did they think everyone was going to be?? Yes it is busy at Colony but that said Pinellas is now open and their Walgreens is gorgeous and large so lets go over there AND Sweet Bay is a nice store as well that seems somewhat quiet. The very south end is new so it will take time to add some infra-structure (ie. stores, gas stations etc). In another couple of years we all will be amazed with the progress!!

Again....we're all (or mostly) retired here! What exactly is the hurry? Living here is MUCH better than the alternative wouldn't you say??

Exactly...we moved up here from Cape Coral (by Ft.Myers) and this is seasonal time there also. That was what kept our restaurants, bars, stores and golf courses open so we could enjoy them during the summer months. Yes, it was a bit of a pain, but I guess we're used to it. It's no biggie, and the story as told is somewhat exaggerated, for sure.

We love S of 466A and have quite above neighbors that moved here from other Villages N of 466A.
You want crowds; check out other popular areas like Naples.

Went to SweetBay today 'cause they had a $10 off a $40 purchase. Very disappointed in lack of selection and empty shelves. The only reason I went was because of the coupon which has now been offered two weeks in a row so they obviously are trying to drum up business. But until they can meet the selection and quality of Publix they are beating their head against a wall. When I couldn't find a box of frozen spinach I told my husband if they offered me free food I will never go back to SweetBay.

Nobody goes to Publix at Colony Plaza anymore, it's too crowded there!

Doug; if no one goes why is it so busy?

[QUOTE=DougB;832705]Nobody goes to Publix at Colony Plaza anymore, it's too crowded there![/QUOTE

You're so bad.:evil6:

...

Sweet Bay will no longer exist in a few weeks when they become Winn Dixie. Their stock is being depleted in anticipation of the change over.

gomoho, the reason Sweetbay is running out of stock is because they are about to be changed over to a Winn Dixie, I think around March. (Winn Dixie bought Swetbay around October.) I believe they are running certain stock out, especially brands and items that Sweetbay stocked that Winn Dixie does not. Although you'd think they would have frozen spinach!

They didn't even have any Valentine cards, and their card shelves were nearly empty (except for leftover Christmas cards). Obviously whoever supplies Winn Dixie with cards is not the same company that stocked Sweetbay.

And BTW, Publix is honoring Sweetbay's $10 coupon.

Wow - I wish I knew that before I went to SweetBay and frustrated myself. Don't buy they are running their stock down. Say someone with boxes of chicken stuffing the meat counter. This was an issue before the takeover was ever mentioned. But thanks for the info on Publix.

We live south of 466A and love it. I really don't notice any difference there than anywhere else during the busy season.

As a matter of fact, the takeover by Winn Dixie was in place before that Sweetbay even opened. We asked why they went ahead with the signage and Sweetbay brands/stock, and they said the building and other contracts had all been negotiated and signed before the sale of Sweetbay to W-D, so they had to go ahead and open as a Sweetbay.

Well in m view it is extremely crowded and more noticeable this month (February) than in any month since I moved here in 2006.

I simply don't buy into "it has to be crowded to sustain stores, etc." Business's adjust just like people and more importantly there is an ample fulltime population here and in the surrounding area all year to sustain all the stores restaurants golf courses. I mean if I fill my pool to the top am I really better off if I try and add a half pool of water more?

But Florida is the only state without snow. So for those of you who hate long lines hire TaskRabbit.

it is such a small price to pay for living in paradise

We were among the first to move into Sanibel---south of 466A. If you want to purchase a new home in TV ---welcome to THE SOUTH!

Most but not all the residents south of 466A are recentl Retirees. Nobody I know has access to age data but just by observation the average age is younger.

As various villages build out and everything completed, fewer workman are in the village and "things" become rather calm and "normal". Additional shopping is on the horizon and will catch up with the building of homes in the near future.

Vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

I love it when men talk about how busy the grocery is on the golf course. ..I wonder how often they frequent shopping or was one trip the experience of 10 deep

Is it really that busy south of 466A, you ask. It is really that busy all over the Villages without exception. This is the season and we take the busyness with a grain of salt. Spring will come, the crowds will go away and then we enjoy ourselves for nine months. That's the way it is!!!

Gross exaggeration. I am in and out iin the suprermarket in excellent time. Ranges are busy but never more than 5-10 minute wait. We golf Exec courses 3 times a week Tee times almost always before 10AM. Then to lunch at one of the Country Clubs. Hardly wait...at least we don't notice. I am wondering if your hubby may live in a different place. Certainly he is not describing the Villages. Lived South of 466 very close to 466a for 7 years. Very happy.

Good one.

I seriously doubt that the Villages and surrounding areas would have anywhere near the same number of restaurants if they did not have the great support during the winter months. You can golf on the Champion Ship courses in July for 5 bucks. Try that in February.

Wow, I have no reason not to believe you, but would like to know your strategy about golf. my group of 8 has been shut out numerous times-each person has fewer than 3 points each, and the leaders put their requests in at the first possible moment. I have had so many people tell me that their groups are getting shut out also. So what do you do differently than most of the golfers I know? I would be very interested, seriously.

As far as other comments on the threads.....

As far as crowds in Publix at Colony, we are there at least 3-4 times a week at all different times. I can think of very few times we have gone when trying to find a parking space was easy. The parking lot is frequently at near capacity in the 6-7 lanes in front of Publix, and I would consider the parking to be fairly crowded year round anymore. However, even though it is frequently crowded in the store aisles, we never have a long wait in the stores checking out. I have seen every lane full and extending into the store, but never waited more than 15-25 mins checking out.

My last comment is that not only have I (and other friends) noticed, but have also had both restaurant servers and store clerks say that they never noticed much of a "down time" for the past 2 years-and especially last year. For every snowbird that has come and gone there have been many other residents who have moved into the Villages in the past years. We recently has some construction done and our contractor (who works for the Village) told us that for some time TV was selling approx 500 houses /month. you take that times 12 months which gives you 6000 houses in a year. Figuring on 2 people per house that adds up to 12,000 new people in a year. BTW, these are his figures, not mine. And anymore, it is common for both people in a household to golf. That's going to make it pretty difficult to get a tee time . Now obviously there are all kinds of variables and guessing as far as the numbers go-the actual number of houses sold, and the num. of actual golfers. Even with the new courses that will open, that is going to make it very, very hard to get tee times.


Even with problems, I still enjoy living here and would not want to live anywhere else. But just because you love the place, you can't ignore there are problems that we all need to work to correct, i.e. respect and consideration when driving your car or golf cart, and respecting other peoples opinions. Sorry to have gone on for so long..

We shop generally in the AM and for the most part use Walmart and Sweetbay. No problems for us. Perhaps it is the GROUPS OF EIGHT that is the problem. We golf by ourselves and meet a lit of great people. Anything you want to do ANYWHERE in GROUPS OF EIGHT can decrease your opportunities.

They have NOT sold 6000 new homes last year. Closer to 2500-3000. We also have new Championship course and 2-3 Execs, new rec centers, Regional Rec Center and a New Town.

Another piece of information for you to consider it is that it is the a Snowbirds who are buying a large percentage of homes in spite of the fact that they are the ones who come here only during the times when everyone else says it is crowded. Apparently,they don't feel the same way.

If you want to golf for free 3x a week at 9AM with 8 friends, food shop in the early afternoon when everyone else has the same idea, walk up to a spot at the driving range after a month of rain and cold weather, you can probably do it somewhere, but not for $150 a month.

The Villages sold 3900 new homes last year. Being new homes, most are sputh of 466A (if not all). Plenty of inventory to keep the numbers high this year as well.

Just driving around Brownwood it is very obvious that they anticipate dramatic growth there. The Town Square buildings are beautiful and it looks like more store fronts will be available than st Sumter Landing. Until the infrastructure catches up with the growth, yes things will be busy during the high season. Taht is just a fact. The price we pay to live in such a fantastic community.

We actually think that in 4-5 yrs that the section between 466A and Brownwwod will be less crowded than the areas north. There is more more green space, Evans Prairie, Lake Deaton, ponds etc. The density will be lower. Which we like just fine. A big plus for the area south of 466 A. But seriously, there are so many great sections in TV. This place is huge and beautiful!! No complaints here!

Geez. Keith, it's an old joke. I think originally from Groucho Max.

We live south of 466A and really haven't seen the big crowds the OP is talking about. Yes, Publix can be busy but nothing in the Villages is as busy as it is in upstate NY. Hubby actually dreads going to Target or the stores along 441, as that road seems to be bumper to bumper traffic all the time. Sams is always crowded. So to label south of 466A as too crowded doesn't seem correct to us. Besides, we're retired so a little wait in the grocery line (never 10 people) doesn't seem like a big thing! New people buying South of 466A shouldn't be scared off by this thread!

I hope the addition of all the new homes being sold (some as rentals ) and the very crowded conditions everywhere --- does not effect the price of the rentals as i have just bought my third rental. As i will have to lower my standard of the people who i rent to