[benj]

I HOPE THIS ISN'T TO DUMB A QUESTION FOR THE FORUM, IS THERE A COSTCO OR SAMS CLUB IN OR NEAR TV?

[SteveFromNY]

Not yet. The Costco I've been to is around 1 hr away, in Altamonte Springs. I hear that Sam's will be local but I don't know when.

[Patty]

According to the Daily Sun a few weeks ago, Sam's is in the Construction Update News. They said it is scheduled to open in August. It is located next to the Home Depot in Lady Lake.

As far as Costco goes....Altamonte Springs and Clearwater are the closest. I have heard a rumor that the Market of Marion Site is being taken over by Costco, but that is unconfirmed at this point.

[zcaveman]

I thought there was a Sam's Club in Ocala?

[chuckinca]

Closing Markets of Marion would be a great loss to my wife, the flea market's best customer!

[nONIE]

Chuck, your wife and I should get together, I am their 2nd best customer. We really would have a ball, spending $ all day long!!!!

Gotta ask you, do you shop with her at Markets of Marion????

[chuckinca]

Yep - gotta keep that ATM card under some sort of control

[SteveFromNY]

Originally Posted by zcaveman

I thought there was a Sam's Club in Ocala?

Z - I just checked their web site and you are right there is a Sam's in Ocala.

[graciegirl]

We stumbled onto the Sams Club in Ocala on our way home to Ohio a couple of weeks ago. If you go out the 'backdoor" of the villages, out 466A and through Wildwood, it is about 15 minutes,maybe 20 if I remember rightly. It was a lot closer than we thought. We got gas there, much cheaper. It was MUCH busier than any of the Sams Clubs we visit in Cincinnati, and much smaller. I am glad they will be opening in Lady Lake. Their buying power is so huge that they have great deals on things that are not restocked, such as outdoor furniture, fountains etc. As well as a lot of other things. AS YOU WELL KNOW.

[travelstiles]

I realize this could be a whole new thread, but when possible I like to support mom and pop shops. I remember (as most of us probably do) the local hardware store where I could stop by and ask Karl to take a look at a broken appliance, fix a screen, or have just the right item my kids needed to complete a project - and he knew their names.
Karl could also refer us to the local painter, plumber or electrician, and I knew I'd get good service by mentioning Karl's name. Yes, we can save a little at the big box store, but have we lost a little something along the way? Glad my kids have memories of Karl and not just Sam...
An interesting link on the topic from Rutgers University: http://deathstar.rutgers.edu/advgeo/...cartwright.htm
Travel

[chuckinca]

The Rutgers article is about rural towns. Growing up in the suburbs or inner city was very different. We didn't have a friendly Ace hardware man who fixed broken stuff. The advent of the big boxes has nearly wiped out the large chains like K-Mart, Sears, Macy's, etc that were the center pieces of the suburban malls. We hate going to Wally World but find ourselves shopping there all the time because they have just about everything you need under one roof. The quality may not be tops in many items, but the much lower prices and convenience are hard to pass up.

[Floridagal]

Been to Sam's in Ocala quite a number of times. I like Sam's and can't wait till they open here near TV.

[travelstiles]

Re the Rutgers article, I didn't live in a rural area - in fact we were only about 15 miles outside of Manhattan, but we had the small locals stores up until only a few years ago. They were also in every neighborhood in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and the Bronx.
I'd still like to see some smaller, merchant owned shops in this area - it may be convenient to save at the big boxes, and I understand the popular economic justification of it all, but I'm a bit tired of all the chain establishments popping up on every commercial lot. I liked knowing a shop owner by name, not needing a cell phone to keep track of my family in the box stores, and even having a local mechanic who knew my car inside out.

[Ooper]

We go to Sam's Club in Ocala about once a month. But I think you are going out of your way when you go thru Wildwood. Just head north on Rt. 301 and take a left at Rt. 42 and get on Rt. 57 up where Garlet's Racing Museum is located. If you are in the northern part of The Villages, just hop on Rt. 42 and head West. Sam's is located right off 75 on 200. Piece of cake. Best choice is to wait till the one next to Home Depot is open to save gas.

[Ooper]

Oops... Meant get on Rt. 75 :redface: