Brownwood business
 

Love Brownwood Square! However, does anyone notice the abundance of unoccupied store fronts? The biggest foot print there is Village related, ie, Bank, Closing Office, Colf Cart sales and Service, Daily Sun and Banner Mercantile. Aside from the restaurants, there is almost no independent retail stores. The only store at Brownwood that has an outstanding appeal is The Rustic Rose. Their merchandise is always fresh and reasonably priced.
What's wrong with this picture? Can't imagine why The Villages is having problems filling up all these vacant retail shops.

I wonder the same thing. No wonder they opened it early. If they waited until a fair amount of retailers went in, it still wouldn't be open. Maybe money is running tight in The Villages and retailers aren't willing to risk failure??

Could it be the lease rates?

Small businesses are struggling today with all the regulations and then to come to a community where you must pay the developers a % may not be worthwhile to them or appealing. Just my guess, but who knows for sure?

Or maybe the businesses have finally wised up to the obnoxiously high rent TV demands.

I am pretty sure I read that the person who is in charge of commercial development said that isn't true but I would guess the rents are higher in the squares. They are at tourist destinations all over Florida.

They keep building spaces and renting spaces it looks to me. How long has the square been open? A couple of years? Thank heavens we don't have tacky shell shops like in other tourist areas.

that would be my guess as well.

Retail space is a challenge in Florida with seasonality (those snowbirds) and generating a profit when 50% of your customers leave for six months.

It just takes time to fill spots and have the right business model.

Personally I can not agree with The Rustic Rose having outstanding appeal. But, beauty is in the eyes . . . etc.

I asked the same question 1.5 years ago when I moved here. What I was told was very simple - several years ago LSL was the same way. People wondered if it would ever be full. Guess what?

Everything takes time. Besides, personally, I hate having all the same stores in all the squares. Would like to see something different. Different restaurants, retail stores etc.

We will just have to wait and see.

Oh sorry - in the mean time I am off to the golf course !!!!

As a comparison to LSL, that square opened in 2007 and yet Panera's didn't open until May 2011. That was 4 to 5 years after opening, where Brownwood didn't really get going until spring 2012, which is only about 3 years ago. That goes to show that successful stores don't just jump into a situation until they feel it's right.

Another reason, is I've talked firsthand with the manager of Jersey's Mikes Subs and they inquired about Brownwood over a year ago. First off, the shopping centers have a do not compete clause with Subway. So with with only a square location, they requested 1200 sf and were told nothing under 2000 sf was available. So they've turned away a very successful food operation. I still eat at the Jersey Mike's in front of Target and that place is always busy.

I personally think that given the location to Wildwood the money just isn't there in Brownwood.
Look at some of the people in the square at night. They just don't have the money and I think a lot of businesses are afraid to take a chance. I think I am correct is saying that Sumter, Marion and Lake are the three poorest counties in Fl.
We also were expecting a lot more out of Brownwood. So Sad!

But we do have lots of "the villages t-shirts and mugs". Lol

LSL opened in 2004. That's when Robin & Caroline opened Lighthouse. It took a few years to get businesses in. Urban Flats (City Fire) opened in 2007. We already had RJ Gators, Up The Creek, Dominics and others. The square was fairly dead for a few years. Now look at it !!

I don't think we are seeing the same people in Brownwood. Also, I cannot tell by looking at most people how much money they have to spend.

The most important lesson I learned working at a bank was "don't judge a book by its cover". Some of our wealthiest customers sure didn't look it.

Heading north on I-75 towards the 44 exit there is a billboard advertising Brownwood. Also one on the Turnpike. Definitely aiming for business outside of The Villages. But from where?

Good point! The truckers on I-75?

Spanish Springs is situated right off 441/27 and no one seems to complain about drawing "outsiders" to the Square. As many other posters have said, Sumter Landing took years to develop, the ownership of stores was constantly changing, but look at it now, it really is the center of TV. Brownwood will get there, it takes time; and many of the newer buyers in the far southern end are seasonal which means less people in the summer. Just needs time to fully develop.

I must be loosing my mind. Have you not ever seen the following:

Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming
Villages Cycles
Memories Engraved
Brownwood Jewelers
SAS Comfort Shoe Store
Nail Salon
Cal's Barber & Beauty
Hear USA
Tommy Bahama
Evelyn & Arthur
Christine's

And non retailers such as:

Raymond James
Prady Financial
United Healthcare
MVP Athletic Club

When we first visited The Villages in 2006, Lake Sumter Landing was no where near as big as it is today. It took about ten years for LSL to be that big (with more room to build still). And, I am sure, Brownwood will take as long (that will be 2022).

Take a look around and smell the roses.

I wear nice clothes so people think I have money.

:pepper2:

LSL and SP both have more TV residents living closeby. I think this makes a big difference. Personally, I always wondered about the location for that reason. I thought Brownwood would be located about halfway between 44 and 466a. But I never pretend to be the brightest bulb in the ceiling and my guess is "they" knew what they were doing. There were probably factors that went into the location decision that we know nothing about. Fore!

I vote for tacky shops - would like that more than the high priced franchises that have deep pockets from other franchises they own and are used to high rent and royalties. (PS - I am a retired former franchise owner)

Please describe what you mean. What should I be looking for, do you have some clues?

It really is not sad......it will take a little more time.

You are so right!
That OP came from a half-empty glass..........

They are not even close to being the 3 poorest counties in Florida. Of the 67 counties, they rank 24th, 29th, and 36th.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florid..._capita_income

I recently talked to a couple who were interested in opening a shop in The Villages. I thought in Brownwood from the way they talked. They live near TV in the winter and have a booth in Shipshewana, Indiana in the summers. They sell nice silver jewelry.

They were looking for something around 1200 square feet. They said not only was the rent high but they would also have to do the flooring, electric and plumbing. They said they simply couldn't afford it. I told them to check into vendor nights at the squares.

He said they might look into a small shop around Webster and put ads in The Daily Sun. I warned them that people in TV like golf cart accessible. I'm interested in what they decide to do.

It's a little dangerous for me to have them to close. I love their jewelry!

Isn't Shipshewana a flea market?

I would seriously doubt that selling silver jewelry they would be able to afford any store front.

When one leases in a new building usually you do your own build out. This way electrical, flooring etc. Is done to your needed specifications significant to your business needs.

Have to agree with those thinking it's just a matter of time before more businesses open. The homes that will be the closest to BW have yet to be built and once everything south of 466A is done, that adds x,000 potential customers. I think a key is to keep the quality and the value of the restaurants as high as possible. That will attract and keep your traffic volume up and make all businesses viable. If the food/service stinks, people will go elsewhere to eat AND shop. As a homeowner who is not a full time resident, we have been VERY satisfied with the food in TV, so much so that during our last trip, every meal we ate out was at a Villages restaurant. Something else I noticed is that SP is directly connected to large retail strip center, and LSL has a Winn Dixie right there. BW is not directly connected to any other non Villages retail. That makes it a bit less of a destination.

Heck, put a Starbucks and a Chipotle in at BW and you could close SP and LSL. :D

Publix is close.

They are at the Shipshewana Flea Market but they do have nice silver jewelry. They were looking at different options near TV but quickly realized it wouldn't work of them. That's why I recommended vendor night.

They were quoted $3,500 a month rent for 1200 square feet plus the build out. That's all I know as other customers needed to be helped.

Brownwood is not nearly as crowded as LSL or SS. I think businesses do market research and based on population and cost make their decision to open a location. Like someone else said, as the population in the area grows, the stores will move into the area.

As the "build out" of the existing concept fills, I believe a lot will change down this way. The land for sale along 466A and the widening to 4 lanes will then attract. Could we see 466A becoming a 466 and eventually 44 becoming a 441? Add in a "new concept" development over towards the new turnpike entrance and the widening of 468 there will, eventually, be a plan that will work and the commercial areas will grow. Marketing guys look at demographics and when it becomes viable they will build.

Thank you for all of your hilarious replies. :BigApplause: Were you a comedian in your other life?

As the population below 466A grows so will BW....heck toojays is coming

Great reply! :thumbup:

I would very much like to see Costco come some where near TV

Lease rates, % of profits to TV, too many rules on how & when I must run my business.

What we don't need are swim suit & sea shell stores.

Why didn't anyone else think of that? :ohdear: