:thumbup:

Could be. But these kinds of plans don't materialize over night.

At the signing of their original or last lease, they knew when they signed there either was a clause for renewal or there was not. There is usually discussion about including the renewal just simply because it costs nothing...adds not commitment and locks in the property. When the lease is up either renew or not.
So at some point these folks must have signed a lease, knowingly, with no lease renewal clause.

The real question is whether there was a renewal in the lease or not? If yes and TV does not renew it would be breach of contract.
If there was no renewal clause they knew that at the time of signing, there would be no assurance they would get a renewal.

It is easy and convenient to just say I could not get my lease renewed....which may in fact be true, but known way in advance (at lease signing)!!

One of our favorites, too. Seems like almost any mom & pop restaurant in TV is doomed. I had never been to Luigino's, which was on a corner and also recently closed. Athens was one of our favorites. Enjoyed the food and the service. Michael went to every table, all the time. Could be that the Powers that Be simply want the prime corners for more lucrative "chain" garbage.

This is sad. Eternally grateful that there are wonderful family-owned restaurants outside TV that we enjoy.

goodtimesintv: I agree with your 1st paragraph. I disagree with your comment concerning envy""...envy has nothing to do with the number of businesses VLSI smashed because they carry a monopoly and want to control their little fiefdom. Finally didn't Athens take personal risks of their assets and didn't they sweat to build a successful business here?

I admittedly don't care to eat out much but Athens was one of the better restaurants here. I will miss their deep fried haddock. apparently residents' loss is VLSI gain. Cést la vie

I guess I'll never understand the misguided loyalty residents seem to have with a business entity called VLSI...its not wise to love a corporation because its incapable of loving you back....like golf.

Personal Best Regards:

A simple, informative post..............amazing journey for this thread.

A real loss for us Villagers. Another I don't give a ****, it's just business for TV.

I think you are reading great respect for a well run business that has nothing to do with love. I think it is extremely wonderful to see the success of a family who has invested their own money, over and over and built a wonderful community.


I grow tired of hearing that every time a restaurant closes here that it is the developer's fault. Some people like family restaurants and some people like chains. I just like decent, good food, prepared, served hot and promptly. People chastise some of us for our admiration for the Morse business and give the same kind of admiration to a restaurant business. It is very hard to keep a restaurant business afloat in Florida with extreme highs and lows in traffic due to tourist seasons. Usually you can tell that a restaurant is peddling as hard as it can when it serves three meals a day, but even that sometimes is not enough to keep it afloat, keep the meals priced where people will buy them with the rising price of food. It is hard work that starts way before the restaurant opens and continues way after it closes. It is some of the hardest work anyone can choose to do, running a successful restaurant. But still doing all things right, sometimes a business closes. None of us know for sure just exactly what the terms were that the two could not agree to, but since the owners are younger, I bet they will continue in another location. Just a guess. I don't know a thing about them other what I have read here.

Posting opinions that are clearly lacking in truth helps no one understand the situation. There appears to be other plans for the property. I guess we wait and see and just move on. There are some great places to eat in the area surrounding the Villages. We do get to elect the tenants some what with our spending habits.

I don't have undying, misguided love for VLSI. I have RESPECT for them upgrading Spanish Springs and building new homes in the oldest neighborhoods of TV, so that all regions of TV are up to date and appealing to home buyers we will someday want to come and buy OUR homes here.

As one person said here before, the restaurant owner knew when they signed the lease whether they could renew or not. Obviously they kept their other two locations for a time such as this. Maybe they made enough money here and are now quitting while they're ahead. The overall economy is not stable, in fact I'd call it volatile.

Just wondering, is this an opinion or a fact based statement?

What other plans for the property have you heard about that are not rumors or opinions?

Owners are in their 30's.

Someone on this site got it directly from someone who works directly for The Villages that there is a possibility of this parcel becoming a stretch Lantana for someone they can't talk about.

Always end up at Athens even if I did not start out there. Felllow upstate New Yorkers. My favorite place

As in many of his posts it it is an opinion camouflaged as a fact based statement.

The OP said and another poster followed with the e-mail both of which made it clear that Athens wanted to renew. Anyone with an objective opinion who has witnessed VLSI dealings has come to realize they get what they want. If they find that can turn a better profit margin they desire they move on. Such was the case of the Wellness Center. If one had compared the cost to join the Wellness Center they would have found it similar except that group participation was separate. It costs substantially less with MVP and MVP includes both open area and group programs

I liked Athens because it had a dish that came close to a favorite in central New York. However I do not have a dog in this fight. It just perplexes me why people have such an affinity for a business entity that for business purposes will turn on anyone or anything to turn a profit, that's what corporations do....hence my , you can't love a corporation and as to respect if people had the opportunity to see the inner workings of such a corporation they may not respect it either. Simply stated I am a realist and my comments are not specifically directed to this corporation but to corporations in general of which VLSI is one that residents come in contact with daily
Its all good and in the end it really doesn't matter

Personal Best Regards:

I guess then I will have to accept what people are saying that their lease was not renewed because the developer had other plans for the space. After all, it is what the business owner said. I certainly respect your opinion Rubicon. Over time I had called on many small family owned businesses myself and watched many of them thrive and many cease.


We will see what happens to that space.

They were offered a new 5 year lease. Chris did not like the new terms. Too costly for him.

Skip

Please, will you tell us how you know that?

Yes, please let us know. I thought the Athens wanted to renew and they did not offer them a renew because they had plans for the property?

I am pretty sure that Skip isn't going to tell you HOW he knows but over time I have come to see that Skip knows a lot of stuff that ordinary villagers don't know. I don't think he is a Morse but I think he is somehow close to the action and knows the back stories around here..


If he says something I would be pretty confidant he is right.

I just hate to see them go. Thought their Greek dishes were extremely good. Also enjoy lunch outside there with the great live music, and the burgers were my favorite in TV

Thanks. I only share what I know is a fact. I hate rumors.

Skip

what are the other plans the TV has

Only the Villages knows. We will wait and see. ;)

sadly that is NOT true...they had severe rat problems in the kitchen...they were closed DOWN !!!!!

they had alot of violations..and THEY did NOTHING to fix it..their loss !!!!!

Oh good grief......we all know this is not true.

And we are ignoring.

Former employee?
What is your source for this accusation?

Why would it be a no no for this restaurant to have rodents in the kitchen and another one of our revered establishments get a pass? I say they get the pass also. They also published a nice email explaining their situation including to refund any surplus on gift cards.

Can't wait to see what The Developers plan next - whatever it is you can bet it will be first class. Still living the dream.

Nothing on the FL Dept of Health or Business and Professions websites.

Could you share the link to where ever this is stated & who actually closed them down as you say. I have not been able to find this anywhere.
Did you work there?

I noticed looking at your posts, you have trashed "many" restaurants.
So I assume you are a bartender or a server.

Thank you. I believe you're saying the truth.

Sadly I will miss their Greek Salads and their dressing. However, went there last night for dinner on the patio and much to my amazement there was a small dog in its dog basket on a chair eating /drinking from a styrofoam carryout container sitting on the table.
Asked hostess if it was OK and the reply was if no one complains it is OK.

Maybe its another reason they are leaving!

Did you complain and say it's not OK with you? Instead of complaining here, complain there instead.

Could it be a comfort dog? Did it have one of the vest things on. We should all respect that some people have ailments that are not obvious. I'm so lucky to be relatively healthy and a bonus to live in a wonderful place like this. Still living the dream.

Certified/registered comfort dog status is no excuse for letting a dog eat off the tabletop and have its paws on the table at a restaurant. Licensed service animals are better trained (and obedient) than that, too.

It's bad manners, and besides that, most dog breeders and vets say owners should not feed them table food anyway.

The hostess and other employees approved of the bad behavior when she said it was okay unless somebody complained.