Pet Sense -Canal St Lake Sumter?
 

Went there to return item and store is totally empty?

Empty as in not much stock, or empty as in completely vacated and closed permanently for business?

From your friends at Google
 

Petsense
Pet supply store in the Villages, Florida

Permanently closed

Closed its door and no stock inside.

I saw the replies, sorry that you have an item you cannot use. If it is still useable by others, try selling it here, or let me know if it is cat related.

Petsense
 

Another example of an exorbitant rent increase by TV and the result, a great business gone. Very sad. Their obedience trainer, Jane, is phenomenal! We will miss the store and classes.

How do you know it was due to an "exorbitant rent increase" and not simply poor management or a corporate decision to consolidate stores?

And how do you know it's NOT due to "exorbitant" rent increases? I don't care either way, just wondering how you know?

Because the owner of The Villages is one of the smartest commercial real estate owners in the world and knows what rental rates are justified in his properties.

& I happen to know someone who was on the task force, that came up with the original concept for Staples & the Petco/PetSmart business model, back in the 1980's. I'm shocked PetSense lasted as long as it did, as that location never met the demographic or location parameters for that sort of store.

I am never surprised to see a retail store go out of business. Almost everything they sell is available from Amazon for a lower price. This is true of most retail stores, including the large big box stores and grocery stores. Why would anyone shop at a specialty retail store when they can order the same product for a lower price from Amazon and get it delivered for free in one or two days? I pay for my annual Amazon Prime membership fee in savings within the first month.

PetSmart is actually in a great location. Because they do grooming right there and are surrounded by other strip-mall chain stores, a massage place, restaurants, and a veterinarian on site, you can drop the dog off for grooming, and walk to lunch, maybe pick up a doohickie decoration for your living room, get a pedicure, and never have to move your car out of its spot in the parking lot. I usually buy cat food at PetCo because that's as far as my golf cart is allowed to go, but whenever I walk across Rolling Acres for lunch at Chipotle or Brooklyn Water Bagels, I always stop at PetCo and visit the cats up for adoption, and pick up a can or two of whatever my cat likes.

People at Water Oak and other points south along 441 go there often as well.

Because I'm retired and don't feel like becoming a hermit, never leaving the house and ordering everything online instead?

I enjoy the social aspect of shopping, more than I like buying things. I like seeing other human beings, doing human being things. I also like the tactile nature of brick and mortar. I can see, touch, feel, smell things. In Ulta and Sephora, I can actually try the cosmetics and skin care right there on the spot, before deciding whether or not to buy them. I also like knowing that I'm helping LOCAL employees be employed.

I do buy from Amazon. Things I can't get in stores here, or that are easier and/or cheaper to get online.

I like the "adventure" of leaving my house to spend the morning shopping. It's also good exercise.

Petsense
 

Petsense is owned by Tractor Supply which is doing very well across the country. My information on why they left comes from multiple, very reliable sources. Tractor Supply tried for months to negotiate what they felt was a fair increase in their rent, but TV held firm, not only raising the rent enormously but requiring a larger percentage of their sales. Economically it made no sense for them to stay since they have two nearby locations. Their grooming business was booked months out, their obedience classes very popular, and their partnership with The Humane Society of Sumter County very successful in placing animals in new homes. I feel the store’s closing was a loss to many. Just my opinion.

So the owner and the tenant disagreed on what the rent should be and instead of taking the Tenant's offer, the owner decided he'd rather have it vacant?

Sounds to me like TSC/PetSense needs to improve their model and SPSF, if they want to be in The Villages.

Sounds to me like the younger generation of the Morse Family needs to recognize that the Town Squares are a niche market and they'll increasing vacancies if they keep jacking up the rent beyond what the market can bear to businesses that WANT to be in those locations.

Real estate, property management, leased properties, just like all other profitable endeavors, relies on charging no more than what your market can bear. The Villages holding llc has had to endure the COVID exodus, but they can't use that as an excuse for the vacancies that happened 5 years ago and STILL not filled. Especially on top of the vacancies that have cropped up in the last year or two, with no replacement in sight.