World of Beer in Spanish Springs
 

...has closed.

The one in Brownwood will be the only one in The Villages.

Very disappointed. Although the service was sometimes sub-par - making us wait FOREVER to take our order, waiting a whole lot longer to serve our drinks even when it wasn't busy, never checking back to see how we're enjoying our meal... the food itself was good, consistently. And it was less than 5 minutes from home. Plus we had rewards, so we got freebies once in awhile.

Not gonna drive 45 minutes out of my way just for WoB.

We've been hot and cold on WOB for a while. Was our goto place before Covid but came back inconsistent afterwards. Seemed to have things under control then went there recently to find half their taps were out. We want to like it and want it to succeed (the Brownwood location now) but we have options if they cannot deliver quality service and product.

We never drove to SS just to go to WOB but we were likely to stop by if we were in the area. Not anymore.

That probably sums up why they closed.

Blondies is direct competition

The cost to operate a restaurant has risen drastically. Sonny's BBQ pulled out of Lake Sumter, Now, World of Beer. I will not be surprised if a few more choose to close.

Excellent point.

Blondies doesn't sell food... So no, it is not direct competition, at all...

How many taps does Blondies have?

WOB is where we get the obscure beers from Europe, if Blondies is carrying 100diffent bottles, plus tap, mixed and food, it could be some competition. Otherwise if its just run of the average beer tap, with mix, and no food, the only competition would be the huts, for us

I'm surprised they lasted as long as they did. The beer was ridiculously overpriced (5.25 for a DOMESTIC draft), and the service was atrocious. There is much better food and service nearby.

Unless people were actually buying the obscure and exotic beers, the costs of buying and not having a high enough turnover probably costs more than the average mainstream bar and burger joint.

One also never knows the increases behind the developer's annual rent as well. . .

WoB in Brownwood had a bad stretch after COVID where the service was very subpar. This past snowbird season it feels like they've turned things around somewhat. The food is usually decent and the pricing is reasonable. The domestic beer is maybe $1.50 more than it should be but that's what you get when you're dining at a square.

Other than the Monday burger special, if I want better service and consistent food, I'd rather go to a country club for something around that price point. If WoB wasn't located at a square, I wouldn't expect them to have much success otherwise.

Meant to try it but never got around to it. These days we dine outside the bubble for easier parking

Could be they are testing the water and can always add food down the road. From what I understand you can order from FMK restaurant to be delivered there.

I am pretty sure World of Beer would have had a multi year lease. It probably was up for renewal and developer didn’t want them to renew - not all restaurants leaving are because of the restaurant.
With Bella Vita having success, the corner across the street (the old Mexican place) coming available - and the success of the 3 decent restaurants in Brownwood, the developer is probably mixing up the mix in Spanish Springs.

WOB was dirty, the food was terrible, and the service was marginal.

Blondies doesn't serve food. In fact they have a "bring your own food" policy.

You can’t just “Add food down the road” - need to plan for a kitchen, deliveries, dishwashing, etc.

They could always move to a larger location.

One of the draws for us going there is driving up with our golf cart and we are 10 steps to the entrance.

That sort of defeats the purpose of BUiLDING a bar on the square, i.e. copying what has been successful in Sawgrass.

They could bring food trucks in or build a sawgrass type open mall with food vendors, elsewhere on the square.

You are so right! Their lease was probably up and maybe to renew was higher than what they were paying. Plus the Villages takes a percentage of their gross. So ya the cost to run a restaurant has gone up and if you are not on the top of your game running it, well then it’s lights out!

Tater Tots
 

If the one in Brownwood closes, I will go into a Tater tot withdrawal.

It’s a good thing in my opinion. The name should have been changed to “We have Beer …… Sometimes”. The service was not great and the selection was sub par. If you have a name like World of Beer you should have more than basic domestic beer.
I also see them closing in other cities.

No wonder it closed if the service was that bad. I understand about not driving far; When you south of 44 that's every day.

WoB in Brownwood made a very unsatisfactory occasion for me.

I had ordered a lovely beer, sitting at the bar in the non smoking section. Some clown with a big cigar kept wandering around stinking up the place. When he took up a roost in the non smoking section, my nose revolted. It smelled like he was smoking a toilet. The bartender did nothing to enforce the non smoking rule even after I scooted down a couple of chairs to avoid the stinker.

So, I will not be back. If they go out of business, so be it! Besides, the Sunny Pint has nicer, more attentive owners and staff.

OH NO!! That was a fave of my boyfriend. They had great beers on tap, better IPA selection than other restaurants. Very disappointing.

And in no small part, the rent cost in TV

They changed their business plan years ago. Nothing like the original. Not surprised they closed.

Yep pretty simple
 

Awful Service that price can't cover up!

“… making us wait FOREVER to take our order, waiting a whole lot longer to serve our drinks even when it wasn't busy, never checking back to see how we're enjoying our meal.”

After experiencing this exact same treatment at the Brownwood location each time we went, we stopped going. Never went to the Spanish Springs location.

Never been to the one in Spanish Springs but have been to the one in Brownwood. The only reason we would go there was when we couldn't get a seat or table anywhere else as they would usually have room. Most of the time they don't have a bartender at their outside bar and had someone from their inside bar come out every 10 minutes or so. Then they would have to walk inside to get your drink order.

Their food is mediocre with bad service so it's not a recipe for success.

Not quite fair to compare attentiveness between Sunny Pint and WoB. If you are sitting at a table you will wait far longer for a server at Sunny Pint than you will at WoB. On the other hand, once you are at the bar you have to share the bartender's attention at WoB rather than having their full attention at Sunny Pint. Different types of service so apples to oranges comparison.

I really like Sunny Pint and go there frequently. Wish it was legally accessible by golf cart and wish it wasn't so expensive. Prices seem to be $1 to $2 per pint higher even being outside the Villages and no servers.

Ok, understand WOB leaving Spanish Springs....but, we need a "go-to" lunch spot or less expensive dinner....

The FMK restaurants are very nice, but we really need a less expensive option...

Love them!

Finally a smart answer... look at the country..

FMK restaurant's/SS looking at food delivery .. there is a deal working..

Nobody ever went there because it was always too crowded.

-Yogi

There's Darrell's in the Publix plaza next to the square but it's usually crowded during lunch time and it closes at I think 2 or 3pm every day so not an option for supper at all.

I don't drink beer at all. But I liked WoB for those flatbreads with blackened steak, blue cheese, balsamic drizzle, and (I think it was basil) leaves. Really tasty and only $5 on Fridays. City Fire does a similar one but that's all the way in Sumter. Hubby liked the burgers, and we'd sometimes go on Monday so he could get the burger special.

The service wasn't always great. But we really did enjoy the food. It was also nice to be slightly back from the square, with a parking lot immediately behind the restaurant.

Blonie food
 

Aren’t they supposed to have a “order limited items from Coastal and Bella” and they will be delivered. Smart move. A lot of people who stop at bars for a drink, and you know the Villages has plenty of those, like to have something to munch on. Places like the Villages who have a huge captive audience and you can’t make a restaurant successful you are not doing your job and providing the product.

You can order items using ubereats or grubhub to be delivered to your table.

2 have closed in Spanish Springs of late. Here are some updates I know of.
 

World of Beer and the Margarita Republic. I have been to the WOB in Brownwood and not impressed. Service was slow and food was mediocre. Sunny's in Lake Sumter recently closed. So now 3 empty in The Villages. I am excited that Harry & The Natives is moving along. The Toasted Yoke in Lake Deaton Plaza is in build out stage. Dunkin has broken ground in Lake Deaton also. Edna's on the Green has it's permanent kitchen now. (These are all south of 44). Burger Fi has been reported since 2022 to be coming into Wildwood on 466a in strip where Huey MaGoo's is located. WaWa on Powell and 466a has broken ground. Target on 466a has broken ground and there are reports of an Outback Steakhouse coming in there. Panda Express and Arby's have been open for a while on 466a. Home Depot opened Memorial Weekend on Powell and 466a. CVS opened a couple months ago at some corner. CVS in Magnolia Plaza has broken ground. The large design center in Brownwood is shuttered. There is a new "Street of Dreams" in the Moultrie Creek area of Eastport. Boosters Bar & Grill in Moultrie Creek area is slated to open late spring or summer 2024. Here is link to what is coming to Middleton: Downtown - Middleton