[Virtual Geezer]

Originally Posted by jbdlfan

Let's do an inventory:
Beef's (3)
China 1
Toscanni's
Subway(?)
Gators Dockside
Flippers
Luigios
Margarita Republic
.....I started to list them all but realized it was a tedious task. There are OVER 90 places to eat in The Villages that are golf cart accessible. Granted, this includes the Taco Bells, McDonalds and such, but still....geesh folks. These do not include the others that are within 15 minutes of drive time by car that will easily double that number!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You could literally eat somewhere different every day for over six months!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Spoiled??????? Just a bit???????

Here you go. There may be one or two name changes or closings since this list was put together. 101 entries by my count.

I one thing that I think Gracie mentioned was that existing businesses that have a good track record would be given first dibs on new locations and a better lease deal than would be given to a new business. They may even go as far as to make changes to the current lease to make things more inviting to open another location.

Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar
Arby's
Athens - New York Restaurant
Ay! Jalisco
Bamboo Bistro
Baskin - Robbins
Beef O'Brady's Family Sports Pub (Colony Plaza)
Beef O'Brady's Family Sports Pub (Mulberry Grove Plaza)
Beef O'Brady's Family Sports Pub (Southern Trace Plaza)
Bob Evans Restaurant
Bonefish Grill
Bonifay Country Club
Bravo Pizza
Burger King
Cane Garden Country Club
Carrabba's Italian Grill
Cattle Baron Club
Cheng's Chinese and Sushi Restaurant
Chi's Grill and Ice Cream
Chick - Fil - A
Chili's Grill & Bar
China Gourmet III
City Fire American Oven & Bar LSL
City Fire American Oven & Bar Brownwood
Cody's Original Roadhouse
Crispers
Denny's Restaurant
Dunkin' Donuts
Dunkin' Donuts
El Ranchito Mexican Restaurant
Fiesta Grande Mexican Grill
First Watch The Daytime Café
Flippers Pizzeria
Gator's Dockside
Giovanni's Ristorante & Pizzeria
Glenview Champions Country Club
Golden Corral Buffet & Grill
Haagen-Dazs
Hacienda Hills Country Club Restaurant
Havana Country Club
High Five Frozen Yogurt
IHOP Restaurant
Johnny Rockets
KFC - La Plaza Grande
Katie Belle's Dining & Music Hall
Kilwin's Chocolate & Ice Cream
Koyame Asian Express
Li'l Bits Café, Suite 403
Lighthouse Point Bar & Grill
Luigino's Restaurant
Mallory Hill Country Club
Margarita Republic
McCall's Tavern
McDonald's - Buffalo Ridge
McDonald's - Colony Shopping Center
Moe's Southwest Grill
NYPD Pizzeria
Nancy Lopez Legacy Restaurant
Oasis Bar & Grill
Olive Garden Italian Restaurant
Ollie's Frozen Custards
Orange Blossom Hills Country Club
Outback Steakhouse
Palmer Legends Country Club
Panera Bread Bakery & Café (Lake Sumter Landing)
Panera Bread Bakery & Café (Spanish Springs)
Peachwave
Perkins Restaurant & Bakery (Buffalo Ridge)
Perkins Restaurant & Bakery (La Plaza Grande)
Peterbrooke Chocolatier - Lake Sumter Landing
R. J. Gator's Florida Sea Grill & Bar
Red Lobster
Redsauce
Ruby Tuesday Restaurant
Sakura Japanese Restaurant (Colony Plaza)
Sakura Japanese Restaurant (La Plaza Grande)
Shanghai China Buffet
Shanghai Chinese Reataurant - Mulberry Grove
Snappy Tomato Pizza
SonRise Café
Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Q
Starbucks - Lake Sumter Landing
Steak 'n Shake
Subway - Colony Shopping Center
Subway - Lake Sumter Landing
Subway - Mulberry Grove
Subway - Spanish Plaines
T.G.I. Friday's
Taco Bell
Taco Bell - La Plaza Grande
Thai Ruby
The Pub
The Village Eatery
The Waterfront Inn
Tierra Del Sol Club
Too Jay's Original Gourmet Deli (Lake Sumter Landing)
Too Jay's Original Gourmet Deli (Spanish Springs)
Toscani's Deli & Pizzeria
Urban Curry
VKI Japanese Steakhouse
Wendy's - La Plaza Grande

[senior citizen]

..........

[kb8tpw]

Wow, this thread is right on target. The developer is apparently losing an opportunity to show that they are really interested in Villagers, not superficially. Those that we have are fine, recommendations made here are super great, but I don't have much faith we'll see anything different. I hope they don't subscribe to the notion that old folks like us should be treated with repetition, etc, etc. When I heard about 5 Guys I thought maybe we had a chance, but looking bleak now. Northern Villages is in the 20 year realm, it is now 2013.......

[senior citizen]

.........

[mulligan]

The developer does not make the decision on which businesses to open in a given location. The business owners do. Generally, the demographics of TV do not support anything more as far as larger upscale eateries go. Not enough full time people within a few minutes drive.

[ssmith]

.... see other thread.....maybe someone is listening to TOTV!!!! Sure hope it is real good though. My husband discovered the ice cream hidden in the
Ambosia store at LSL and liked it....but then he likes any and all ice cream!!!!

I know I am in the minority but was not a fan of Peach Wave.

[tucson]

Originally Posted by senior citizen

I agree, especially with your last sentence.

Subway also tastes fresh, whether it's the hot or cold subs.............

Whereas........Applebees which we do have in northern Vermont and have tried on numerous occasions........is not that good, at least not up here.
It's all frozen foods with sauces that have tons of "flavor enhansors" comparable to MSG, etc. In the beginning, we would take the grandkids to it and liked it as it seemed "modern".........but lately, even the burgers are weird......maybe it's just the management up here.

We had looked forward to the Olive Garden as we do not have any up here. Was not impressed at all with the Olive Garden in The Villages.
No Italian bread......just breadsticks. All the soups were exactly the same, but with different "names"........the lasagna, etc. and the meatballs, by which I critique an Italian restaurant were not good, at least on the day we were there. We didn't go back.

Red Lobster was TOTALLY EMPTY. That was another one we looked forward to going to. We used to take the kids and their dorm friends to Red Lobster up in Burlington Vermont back when they were in college.....
..............but guess our tastes have changed. Wasn't that great.

We did like the WATERFRONT INN ............their turkey, stuffing etc. dinner tasted "real" when we there......ditto for their shrimp. Also, we liked the LIGHTHOUSE......went there a lot just to sit on the outer deck and eat outdoors.......

Didn't go to any place like Katie Belle's or Cattle Baron after reading all the bad comments.......on dirty "stuff".

As I've said before, we had nothing but good food from Toscani's in Mulberry Grove........which had been recommended to us. Real Sicilian cooking on the premises..........NOT FROZEN ENTRES put in the microwave. They even make their own buffalo mozarella cheese.........

Sometimes, if you get off the beaten path, you find these little gems.
But then again, everyone has a different taste in food.

Even up here, we notice that the "quality" is no longer there as food is very expensive and very perishable.........but they make the mistake that if a customer has a bad experience, they WILL NOT RETURN.

I still prefer my own cooking...........as I know under what conditions it was prepared, how fresh it is, etc..........just me. Eating out isn't what it used to be.

I agree, eating out is not the same as it used to be! I'm extremely cautious re;which restuarants I eat at after suffering big time last year w/Salmonella from eating a cheeseburger in a restuarant. I was sick for 3+wks! I now eat mostly my own meals at home, plus I save alot of $$.

[Heartnsoul]

I agree the Developer does NOT make the decision who comes in. The business owner himself must decide IF it is worth it to try to open a business today. I think any would do well here with the population however due to new regulations and taxes not many businesses are willing to open today.
Another point I'd like to make is when we dine out I find we are getting less and less for our money. Hardly any veggies, more starches as they are less expensive however not good for our health. I keep making this promise I will eat home more however with the active lifestyle it is many times difficult.

[Buckeye Girl]

Bahama Breeze would be great here, and Giordano's Pizza...

[skip0358]

The places moving to Pinellas Plaza are small, very successfully stores, good for them if they can open a second shop. Many of us have sent requests to larger stores and the response has been the same. Thanks for your request but not at this time. We have a new Italian Restaurant coming to Colony Plaza, Yalhala Bakery is coming to TV, Scooples Old Fashion Ice Cream to Brownwood, World of Beers to Brownwood, O'Sheas in Wildwood across from Brownwood, Gators Dockside a second store in Brownwood, another New Italian Restaurant in Brownwood. I think that's a pretty good start seeing how s/o 466A is only about half finished. There is also vacant stores space in Brownwood start sending requests to your favorite stores, ask them to relocate and see what response you get. Just remember after Pinellas Plaza there is no other vacant GC accessible property other then IFO the County Center so Brownwood and the proposed Shopping Center w/o Brownwood will be it. Start writing people.

[Cantwaittoarrive]

If you don't like the businesses then you don't have to give them your money

[Scoops]

Pinellas Plaza should be renamed 'Colony West' since it is almost a carbon copy of Colony Plaza.

[marianne237]

Would anyone else want a fast food fish (ala Capt. D or Long John Silver) or Boston Market here? They do serve a lot of fried items, but sometimes that's what you want or feel like having.

[SusanOfWoodbury]

I have no idea what the answer is to this problem, but, I do have a suggestion... Why not contact the Villages Marketing, Business office and talk with them.

Also, there is a old fashion ice cream shop coming to Brownwood, also a family owned Italian eating establishment

[lance.boyle]

I'd love to see a Hooter's too. But I'm not sure where they will get the "appropriate" wait staff, if you get my drift. No college's in the local area.
Oh well..