Business opportunities
 

My wife and I just sold our breakfast lunch business in Indiana. We are currently looking for opportunities in and around The Villages. What type of businesses do you think would be successful in that area? We are both in our mid 50’s and plan on working in some capacity for 10 more years.

One that does not need a lot of employees.

Why the double post?

You might look into estate sales. No idea as to the competition. For people who died or maybe some moving you go to their house, get everything tagged for sale and then run a sale for two or three days. You can check the classified adds to see if there is much competition.

A dependable, affordable transportation service to drive people to medical appointments and other places. It is seriously needed in The Villages. Driving people to the airport is also a good way to make money.

No, You Need Experience!
 

Open a Costco

Do we need another costco?

A reliable transportation business might just work

You would have more clients than you could possibly accommodate if you offered a reasonably priced and reliable weed pulling service.

Breakfast and lunch is covered down here. The villages south of 44 could use a lot of businesses. Start off with one of the sub sandwich franchises or an independent one as there is nothing down here, a DQ franchise, Wendy's, Burger King, UPS store, it's wide open south of 44 but what might be coming is kept pretty much under wraps so you don't know what your competition might be once you open.

If it was economically viable someone would already be providing that kind of service.

Let me repeat myself, if it was economically viable someone would already be providing that service.

Papa Murphys at Magnolia Plaza (South of 44). Inexpensive franchise, good pizza, and requires very few people to run it.

Not necessarily, could be a reliable efficient service could do well.

The postal place in Magnolia plaza takes UPS and there’s a Jersey Mikes going in either there or Lake Deaton.

This could be a huge problem, no fun having a competitor next door.

I think it’s economically viable, and almost zero capital commitment up front to get started. The problem is nobody wants to spend several hours a day on their hands and knees in the scorching sun and heat while getting bitten by fire ants. So there is that.

Lobster
 

Cousins Maine Lobster, either the truck or the sit down restaurant. Lots of work, but you always have a line of customers waiting. :BigApplause:

breakfast lunch business on rt 44 near brownwood could work. Maybe put one in Lake Deaton plaza.

Look up daiquirideck.com
3 locations in sarasota County.
That is a unique idea for the villages.

Maybe a restaurant with healthy menu choices. No sugar and low sodium.

Wonder if a restaurant like that would survive?

Well, we don't eat out a lot because we avoid all sugar, corn syrup, etc. But, we may be unusual?? I know there is a Keto group in The Villages.

We Have no Pollo Tropical Restaurants. Why not?
 

Business
 

I know what I wish someone would try. Businesses seem to assume that Villagers only like shall I say, provincial food. Yes. we have Mexican, Italian, (bad) Chinese, Japanese, 1 Thai and Vietnamese. We do not have: Middle Eastern, Indian, Korean, French, Brazilian, Ethiopian, Columbian, Cuban and others.

Somehow it is very often "American", e.g. a burger joint, a deli, a Dennys/Bob Evans, etc. Those are fine, but we need variety.

Look at how Vietnamese food has taken off here in the last 2 to 3 years. Villagers like to eat out. Find something you can model on the local Vietnamese restaurants (they also do not have a lot of employees) but bring in a new cuisine so that we have more restaurant variety.

My observation is that it is unusual for a restaurant to fail here, probably because we like to eat out so much. But I think a restaurant that offered a new variety of food would be mobbed.

Carvel or Boston Market

Good is big down here and right now we have seen a number of restaurants either vlose down or change hands due to an extreme lack of applicants. I imagine with your experience you might consider restaurant supervisor or manager role. Or just about that ole in any business. Management of a golf store? There are 2 on every corner.

I would agree that an ethnic restaurant would be workable. That may be too restrictively scoped for here but an ethnic food restaurant might make it (besides Chinese or Mexican or Italian). Just have to find the waiters, cooks, bus staff and afford to pay them what they demand.

Business opportunities
 

Pet sitting, checking on homes monthly while people snowbird, driving people to medical appointments or getting their groceries or prescriptions. The driving them to appointments may need a special insurance though - if they fell getting out of your car, not good!!

Papa Murphy's
 

I live right near Magnolia Plaza, Not aware of Papa Murphy's Pizza here? Marcos will be opening thought.

Jet’s Pizza - please!

A fazoli restaurant in Tradewinds plaza near Lowes. You would have all the business from apartments, tradesmen, regular houses, and villagers. Don’t need more expensive restaurants or hamburgers.

I also think a transportation to doctors and visits to assisted living to see spouses would work.

Pizza, Hot Dogs, Italina Beef, ...
 

Since you have food service experience, how about a franchise? A Lou Malnati's, or even a Jet's Pizza would go over big time here. Same goes for an Italian Beef place, like Portillo's or Buono Beef. There is a place is Leesburg that serves beefs and Vienna Hot Dogs, but that's pretty far away for most Villagers.

A business anywhere South of 44 but it will be a big challenge to find an affordable lease.

Just check out the prices at the eateries in Sawgrass Grove.

I agree with the other poster, you need one that requires few employees. The Villages has no public transportation and by design has no nearby neighborhoods with residents who are not retired....therefore no workforce living nearby. Also if you open one of those rare restaurants as some have suggested on these posts, then you are sure to have about 2 customers per week.

Would love to see more ethnic restaurant of types we do not have.

Lou Malnati's might be a big winner

One of the biggest negative for seniors that cannot drive is that the villages have no community travel lf one is not able to drive. but don't worry they have they have plenty of golf. courses.

Most excellent idea. Lake Deaton plaza is a good spot between 2 active areas, with still land to build if necessary

Workforce housing is popping up all around TV. New neighborhoods are developing…….