Goodbye Spanish Springs
 

Three restaurants on the Spanish Springs square have gone out of business. Plans are to transform these facilities and other future closures into apartments. In the near future I totally expect the entire Spanish Springs to be nothing more than apartments and shops. Also I find it strange that the district approved the Developer getting amenities for these apartments.

Not.

I find your post interesting, and I can see it happening that way to a point. Is it possible that as the transformation towards apartments happens that a market will appear for more shops and restaurants?
I have no idea how many units of apartments might be created, but at some point those folks would love to have a nice square, with some food and music right in the neighborhood. Such a demand could turn into a pleasant equilibrium between local foot traffic and services. This could be a better working model going forward than what has been going on there lately. I'm not trying to be contentious, just suggesting that this could work out well for everyone.

Demshar's did not go out of business, they closed temporarily. TooJays filed for bankruptcy months ago and I suspect this is part of expense reduction since the other two are still open. Katie Belle's is the only one that actually closed with no plans to reopen .

I believe that once this pandemic is behind us everything will come back stronger than ever. Might take another year and some places will disappear but others will take their place. In the end, a "shakeout" may be a good thing.

"Also I find it strange that the district approved the Developer getting amenities for these apartments."

Always follow the money, it's no surprise at all. Time are a-changin'

think your right

Demshar's closed permanently. They have signs outside their restaurant stating so, posted by them.

As The Villages empties out the office space they use in SS, they will transform, that space to apartments. Most of the second floor occupancy is now used by The Villages and they are consolidating operations down in the new headquarters they built in Brownwood. I would guess the first floor space will remain as commercial property

If they continue to have it part of the 55+ community, and not open it to under 55+, and manage it as the landlord as such with no sublets allowed - then it could be a very good thing.

Imagine some of the homeowners who want to downsize, who are still 100% independent, but want less responsibility that goes into homeownership. Living in the apartments. They no longer need to drive to the squares since they already live there. Since it's only 2 blocks away from the supermarket, they could probably get rid of their cars entirely, rely only on golf carts to get to doctors' offices or whatever else.

If they just need a quart of milk - it's no big deal for them to just walk the two blocks. Or they could even just go downstairs and order a cup of coffee from Dunkin Donuts, no need to buy a quart til shopping day.

But - I lived for 7 years in Boston, so I understand the joys of "city life" as an actual resident, not just a visitor.

If I was single I'd probably jump at the chance to live "downtown" in the Villages square in a little 1-bedroom apartment.

I agree with you. I've heard (I know that's dangerous) that the Brownwood apartments cannot be sublet. So... maybe that's a precedent.

Small neighborhoods that have all the necessary amenities and entertainment, within walking distance, have become popular in many cities. I'm sure the developers are aware of this and it wouldn't surprise me to learn, that this is a first test to see if that type of development would work and make money for TV.

Agreed. The apartment dwellers will want to dine out. Restaurants will open to meet demand.

I can see nothing wrong in using vacant space as appartments around SS. Square.
Unlike the HH proposed development, no one is going to lose a view, and apart from the fact people will know there are apartments around the square, little or no intrusion or change to the area should be noticed
Could be a good move to revitalise the whole place.

I talked the owner on Friday. A decision to permanently close has not been made. No where on the sign does is state this.

Rollie

No, the closure is temporary per The Daily Sun yesterday.

This is incorrect. The sign says they are closed temporarily due to slow business due to the pandemic and The Sharon and town square entertainment being closed. The note in its entirety is included in the highly misleading news story that implies in the first sentence this temporarily closed restaurant will be turned into apartments. This is not reporting, it’s fostering gossip and fear. http://www.**************.com/2020/0...9-and-turmoil/

Paranoia and overreaction has caused a lot of this. COVID-19 should already be in the rearview mirror as the cases and the death rate have dropped below the pandemic stage a long time ago. That said, I sold food to restaurants for over 20 years of my sales career. Restaurants closing and reopening under new ownership and new names happened constantly.
Time will tell, but I believe other restaurants will move in to those spaces. The catch is they need people to support them. That’s not gonna happen if people are running around in a panic with masks over their faces afraid to go anywhere! I was at too jays SS a couple weeks ago and will miss it.

Businesses closing
 

We residences need to patronize the businesses that therremain open until the others are able to get back to business. Spanish Springs will come back maybe not like it is now but however people will show up. The music scene is a selling point for future residents, where else can you find towns around the country with outside music/ entertainment there are probably some places but not many.

There is no conspiracy here. Restaurants are closing here and all over this country and all over the world because many, many, many people are afraid of dining indoors or being with crowds.

If nightly entertainment returns to the squares at full blast, as a potential apartment dweller in SS , I’d not rent until both ears went south so I could remove my hearing aids and not be bothered by the nightly noise.

Show me the plans in writing you mentioned. Are you sure you aren’t just complaining as exaggerating because you are upset about Katie Belles ?

Over 120000 people live in The Villages. Most enjoy it. Like anywhere else there are some that may be unhappy. Let's see what happens when it all shakes out. Lots of factors involved here. Most decisions made by the developer have been good.

Bringing the "president" into this is only going to start a political conversation which we all know is prohibited. <wink>

Demshares small business loan
 

I read here that Demshares recently received a small business covid19 disbursement of over $150,000 to cover employees salaries and other expenses. Then they close and no employees have jobs. How exactly does that work. Is this reimbursement for monies spent or is the just another way to play the system. Just doesn't sound right. Shouldn't they maybe give the money back? It seems a lot of different small businesses received funds that I believed were for continuing operations and were then used instead for other things

That money would have been used to pay their employees for the last 6 months and I believe it was also allowed to be used for rent. There will be no paying it back.

I’m sure that if and when they build apartments on this square we will lose the nightly music and dancing because of the noise. Just my opinion

I would like to see all people who will be proven to have made exaggerated posts and posted unfounded rumors about the apartments to run naked around Spanish Springs Square.

But then...maybe I wouldn't like to see that.

Which member of the Morse/Schwartz family wrote this

That's not what it says on their website. Scroll down to see.

Whats Happening | Demshars

All 3 are out of business permanenetly. The TooJays in Ft Lauderdale has also closed. And none of them has plans to reopen

Those government subsidies were issued months ago. They probably went through the $150,000 and now they can't afford to stay open. I would guess that they are negotiating with the landlord to find a way to stay in place until it's feasible to reopen.

Definitely would not like to see that.

aside from everyone else's concerns
 

yes, I'm concerned about the traffic if everything becomes apartments...I live in Spanish Springs...I'm aggravated about broken promises too....it is what it is...

Would be nice if they build condos. Not everyone wants to rent.

I have always said I think The Villages should offer condos. Then widows and widowers, and married people, could downsize and not worry about lawn and exterior maintenance of their home. Apartments, will appeal to non Villagers, more than people who understand the benefits of having equity in their home. I think it's a great idea for Spanish Springs, it needs something to draw people to it.

The Developer is behind an Iron Curtain and cannot be penetrated by our harping and whining.

I suspect as tge square loads up with apartments complaints for noise will force the square music to be ahut down permanently.

Ah actually I went to the website that for whatever dumb reason can't be linked here - that EVERYONE refers to as a source of information anyway...
And read the sign. You're right. It's "temporarily" closed. But I'm not counting on it ever re-opening. And the sentiment I expressed is the same, because of the wording of the sign. Saying that they can't encourage people to come to the square.

Well of course they can't encourage people to come to the square. They're closed. Closed businesses DIScourage business, they don't ENcourage business. Plus I wasn't impressed with their food and it was overpriced. They had really good italian bread. That's my "best" memory of their food. It just came off as very snippy, that sign. Like they're cutting off their nose to spite their face.

Good luck to them in their new Stonecrest location, and I'm sure the Developer will find a good replacement once commerce gets a little smoother in the coming months.

Ok vomiting on someone’s shoes, now You want to see people run around SS naked, you have jumped the shark. Why let post get the better of you, and come to their level