[Mimib]

Does anyone know if there are plans for more shopping near Brownwood? With all the new residential development one would hope that there would be plans for more shopping in the southern districts. Any information?

[NotGolfer]

Noone on here can tell you "when" but you can be sure there will be commercial developement!! Most of us on the south-end are with you in that it can't be soon enough!

[skyguy79]

There was some discussion earlier this year of an Antrim Dells Mall going in just west of Brownwood with Macy's as anchor, but it seems the few website mentioning Antrim Mall are now dead links. I wonder what happened???

[Lbmb24101]

In our North Atlanta suburb, we have strip malls galore, a bit over developed but great infrastructure.

I know we will miss the conveniences ; Publix , CVS within a mile, etc
The Villages needs more commerce
We spent 10 days in our Buttonwood home, and, no matter what time of day we went to Publix, it was crowded.
( snowbirds to blame? Or Thanksgiving time to blame?)
Could be
HOW CROWDED ARE THE GROCERY STORES USUALLY.
is that always the case?

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Lbmb24101

In our North Atlanta suburb, we have strip malls galore, a bit over developed but great infrastructure.

I know we will miss the conveniences ; Publix , CVS within a mile, etc
The Villages needs more commerce
We spent 10 days in our Buttonwood home, and, no matter what time of day we went to Publix, it was crowded.
( snowbirds to blame? Or Thanksgiving time to blame?)
Could be
HOW CROWDED ARE THE GROCERY STORES USUALLY.
is that always the case?

Publix at Southern Trace, Sunday afternoon can be very lonely.
Hard to believe, "that no matter what time of day", Colony is crowded. Others have posted there are slow times even there.

[Happinow]

Hubby and I were discussing this same topic earlier today. We were griping at how busy Colony Publix is....always! It's like bumper cars in there. The store cannot handle the amount of people. If we go there in the afternoon we have to park down by the golf cart store. We are so hoping for more stores at this end of town. I believe The Villages will build out this way because they seemed to have done a great job so far!!

[Patty55]

Originally Posted by skyguy79

There was some discussion earlier this year of an Antrim Dells Mall going in just west of Brownwood with Macy's as anchor, but it seems the few website mentioning Antrim Mall are now dead links. I wonder what happened???

Yes, I read that on the Internet. Macy's, Coach and a water park out by the casino.

[golf2140]

Originally Posted by Patty55

Yes, I read that on the Internet. Macy's, Coach and a water park out by the casino.

I also heard that they will have a shark tank

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by golf2140

I also heard that they will have a shark tank

And an adult bookstore...whoops, this isn't the neverending short story thread.

Truth is that commercial and retail property just doesn't "happen" or is set in place by the developer. I am sure the developer has plans to accomodate any and all large chains who want to locate near here but there has to be a decision to build by the Macy's or Coach or Costco or Publix or shopping mall corporate folks and with the economy still lingering in the luke warm area, big companies are not expanding...so it is a wait and see situation. Some of the folks who do demographics for the decision makers are too dumb to realize just how much growth is really happening here. We ought to start a thread on just that, with the links to the people who make the decisions about corporate expansion and if we barraged them, then maybe they would pay a little more attention.

In summary...the store fairy doesn't just swoop down and build a Publix...or any kind of retail store..... And even the great King of the villages can't just "make it happen". We know there are enough of us to support another Publix here and they need one for sure. I am told that the one in Colony is the highest grossing store in the chain.

[Madelaine Amee]

Originally Posted by Lbmb24101

We spent 10 days in our Buttonwood home, and, no matter what time of day we went to Publix, it was crowded. (snowbirds to blame? Or Thanksgiving time to blame?) HOW CROWDED ARE THE GROCERY STORES USUALLY.
is that always the case?

I have been living here full time for the past seven years and this is the busiest I have ever seen it, especially this early. Usually it is standing room only in February through April. From April on through the summer it slows down. However, there are more and more people choosing to live year round in TV and this will change the summer population. The following may be of intrest, it shows that if you treat your employees right you can grow a great business.

Publix Founders Facts and Trivia:

The first Publix Food Store was opened in Winter Haven, Florida in 1934 in the middle of the Great Depression. From the very beginning the Publix business model has included employee ownership and employee profit sharing. Publix has been a privately-owned retail chain for its entire history, and in 2012 it was the fourth largest grocery store chain in the U.S. and one of the largest U.S. retail chains.

[jblum315]

I can't tell you how much I admire Publix. The courtesy and helpfulness of every single worker in the store is remarkable. They must have a really effective training program and they must treat their employees right.

[getdul981]

Originally Posted by Lbmb24101

In our North Atlanta suburb, we have strip malls galore, a bit over developed but great infrastructure.

I know we will miss the conveniences ; Publix , CVS within a mile, etc
The Villages needs more commerce
We spent 10 days in our Buttonwood home, and, no matter what time of day we went to Publix, it was crowded.
( snowbirds to blame? Or Thanksgiving time to blame?)
Could be
HOW CROWDED ARE THE GROCERY STORES USUALLY.
is that always the case?

There is supposed to be a Sweetbay down on SR44.

[mulligan]

It's not a matter of the villages building, it's a matter of retailers expressing an interest in leasing. With the election done, there may be some interest in expansion, but because the market here is limited, I'd guess caution would be common. Keep in mind that outside the villages, the demographic is dismal at best, and at buildout, it will get worse, because all the construction people will move to where the money is.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Regarding Antrim Dells - - - Here's something I looked into and posted back in August:

================================================

Here's the scoop:

The e-mail I sent to the Commercial Property contact -

"Has there been a change in plans/direction regarding developing Antrim Dells? Over the course of maybe the last year or so, a link to cursory info regarding it was available on your Commercial Properties web site. Yet I go out to the web site now and any references to Antrim Dells have been removed.........or maybe I'm just overlooking something.

Any insights appreciated!"

The reply:

"That website has been continually evolving. It’s primary purpose is to give information on our market and our existing projects to those tenants that lease inline or outparcel space. In the last round of modifications we cleaned the website up to remove future developments because the size and nature of those projects typically change from the original concept by the time we’re going into the construction stage and we’d rather wait until we have good plans and information before posting something.

You are correct, I believe at one time there was some basic information about a commercial project there and a simple concept plan. Once we have something more definitive that is fit for publication we will update our website as well as release it in The Daily Sun. I hope that helps."

================================================== =

So it's really hard to tell if their initial plans have actually changed. Regardless, I suspect TV will develop SOMETHING there - it's just a matter of what and when.

Bill

[skip0358]

As for Publix I go early in the AM. They open at 7AM i'm there by 7:15 on shopping day very few people are there at that time. I've been told by a few people working there the new store is about 2 yrs away. As for other stores COSTCO,Home Goods etc. there were online petitions to bring them but their Real Estate people have to way out a lot before having any store make the plunge to build. As for the mall I wonder if another change is in the works only because the new Brownwood sign was installed on the far Western edge of what was supposed to be the mall. Just seems a little strange to me just saying. As for future building I'm sure it will take place on Rt 44 as there is VERY limited space left on 466A. I know they're working in Brownwood but don't see that as being anything major.