How important is it to be near shopping?
 

Looking to buy very soon south of 44. I know shopping is limited (for now), but outside of a weekly grocery run, that is usually the extent of my shopping (buy everything else almost exclusively online). I only shop with a purpose, do not enjoying just casual, browsing and window shopping. To me, being near the Big Box stores just creates more traffic and congestion. Are you OK being a bit away from major shopping plazas, as long as you are close to a grocery store?

Not at all because it's too hot and too slow to carry groceries in a golf cart. More important to be close to the squares and restaurants. But a lot of people do it. Because they can.

Nobody can really answer this question for you? Just ask yourself, "Self, how important is it to be close to shopping?" Then answer yourself.. lol

It is a bit inconvenient now. At the present time, there ain't much south of 44. There is no a gas station, drug store, or Big Box store. All you have is Magnolia Plaza and Sawgrass. I do wish that there were more stores down here (a Walmart or an Aldis - or, dare I say, a Costco or a Trader Joes) but I expect that to change in the next year or so. I am amazed that a store has not opened up down here. There must be at least 25,000 people living south of 44 so they would have a captive market. I was surprised that BJs opened a new store in Spanish Springs area. They have almost every store in the world in a three mile strip - Sams Club, Walmart, Home Depot, Lowes, Walgreens, Best Buy. Not sure if there was a demand for BJs.

We usually go up to Lady Lake area a couple of times a month to do shopping - Walmart, Home Depot, Target, etc. We also shop online. Amazon is great.

Wife and I travel a lot further at home for shopping.
Shouldn't think anyone in TV has to travel more than 15-20 mins. for any essentials.
How close do you need a shop?

Besides the retail stores, the 441/27 run has lots of restaurants, mostly chain restaurants. There are also plenty of restaurants on 466 and 466A. If the OP doesn't dine out much, then those restaurants are not important. Anyone looking to purchase here in The Villages has to have a heart to heart with themselves and decide what is really important to them. It really doesn't matter what the posters on this forum find important.

The only "close" shopping I care about is a grocery store and maybe a gas station.

Once Meggison is finished and connects to 470 (I think that's the road) which should be soon, it will be a quick ride to Rte 27 in Leesburg. The intersection of 470 + 27 has a couple of grocery stores, gas stations, fast food, etc. And is not far from a giant regional post office.

What’s ok for me may not be for you.
How did things look on you visit?

OP, funny you ask but it is a question that only you can answer. Wife and I just discussed our location between 44 and 466A. We both play golf twice and sometimes three times a week and there are plenty of courses to choose. We have a Publix and Neighborhood Walmart very close, several restaurants and within the last two years Trailwinds along 466A opened and we have a Lowes, more shopping and more restaurants. Across from Trailwinds is more shopping including a Winn Dixie, restaurants, etc. We rarely go to Sam’s or any stores along 441 but are members. We do like Target and wish one was closer. Lake Deaton Plaza is a short golf cart ride too. Brownwood and Sumter Landing are about 15-20 minutes by golf cart. Yep, we like our location and it’s only gotten better. I believe in the near future (three or four years) south of 44 will have similar conveniences.

We live in the Spanish Springs area and this is the best place in TV for proximity to stores, gas stations, warehouse clubs, chain restaurants and health care professionals. We love it. We do forget to buy certain things when we go out. No problem 2 Pubilxes an Aldi < 1 mile away. Even though we take car, most of these businesses are accessible by golf cart.

To us proximity is great.

I don't care about stores like Target and Kohl's, etc. Living south of 44 is less than 10 minutes to the businesses on 44 and in Brownwood which include Publix, Walgreens, more than a dozen restaurants, pizza shops, gas stations, primary care, specialists, auto repair, etc. plus we have the Fenney Grille and McGrady's Pub. When they start building big box retail the traffic will be a nightmare just like it is in Lady Lake on 441/27.

OK, here's the deal. If it makes any sense. Ya just don't feel like doing a bunch of driving. And that for us, outweighs going anywhere to "shop". Kinda like being in our part of this big old bubble.

For us when buying it was a 9 on a 1-10 scale. We are between Morse & Buena Vista and just south of 466a. Great location IMO. Key shopping is no further than 10 minutes and Brownwood 15 minutes. So for us it worked our perfectly. And truly we would never consider moving south of 44. Just sayin’. Personal preference.

The traffic on 441/27 in Lady Lake is a nightmare right now because of this ongoing construction. When this construction is complete, it will be a breeze. Prior to the beginning of this construction, the 441 stomping ground (starting at Kohl's at the southern end and ending at Walmart at the northern end) took a maximum of about 10 minutes from one end to the other and that was at busy times of the day and in season. I don't have any idea what the hold up is with the completion of the road but it can't come quickly enough.

Essential. Love having quick golf cart access. Only want to keep one car