Driving to Mazzara's takes about an hour and 15 minutes. Not a bad drive. I do it every 6-8 weeks and think that it is time well spent. I put a carrier with cold blocks in my trunk and bring home meats, pastries, bread and lots of cheeses that you can't buy here. Take a friend and make a day of it!

MMMMMMMMMMM...Mazzarro's. We have been known to make the trip down just to satisfy our craving for their incredible biscotti! A veritable wonderland of delectable temptations! :icon_hungry:

You don't like Publix pastries? I think they are yummy. Italians don't have the market completely cornered on yummy baking and food. Bet you have NEVER been to Resch's Bakery in Columbus, Ohio or had cold cuts from Thurns..or their German Potato Salad.... or ever tasted Donato's thin crust pizza with pepperoni slightly crispy on the top.

Columbus Bakery, Resch's Bakery, One Hundred Years Making Weddings Cakes, Birthday Cake, Donuts and Every day special. They made our wedding cake half a century ago and still making wedding cakes. And their Marzipan....mmmm.

Mazzara's is available almost here-There is nothing that comes close--Graciegirl-that a ride , it will be well worth it.

What else do you do while in St Pets? I'd like to make a day of it with friends

In the slightly cooler months (not the summer with crowds), we drive to St. Pete Beach for the day. We spend a couple oof hours on the most beautiful beach you can imagine, have a late seafood lunch, and drive back to The Villages.

There is a great beach bar called The Undertow that is directly on the beach and they have free parking.

Add a stop for your favorites at the Italian grocery and you have a great day.

The Hurricane Bar and Grill is a great place to go. You can watch a beautiful sunset on the open upper level.

I read somewhere in that Forbes story on business that we now have a population of 114k+. If that number is true I find it hard to believe The villages cannot sustain a very good bakery or a butcher shop. With people traveling to St Pete for bakery I see no reason why Villagers would not drive from 1 end of the Villages to the other to get great bakery and meats. I grew up in the Cleveland area and we had 2 great bakery chains (Hough Bakery and Kaase's Bakery) They are both gone now and replaced by big box grocery chains like publix (Sorry their bakery is only good if you have nothing to compare it too!) . I would gladly pass up Winn-Dixie or Publix to go into a bakery for a hot loaf of Jewish rye (you know...the smell that knocks you off your feet) or fresh kalachi's that melt in your mouth. Or how about Fat Tuesday, there is no grocery chain that can compare to a local bakery for paczki (pronounced puunch-ki). Don't get me started on butcher shops. I travel 45 minutes to Peter's meat market just for heir homemade polish kielbasa with garlic when I'm at our home in Ohio. To our wonderful developer's that gave us a great place to be....These are the things that Villagers really want!!!

But....they would still be considered "niche" businesses. Wanting them and sustaining them are two different issues. Ah...I am so glad I don't have to explain that to potential accounts anymore. The simple answer lies in WHAT PERCENT of the over 50K HOMES are willing to pay a considerable amount MORE for baked goods on a REGULAR basis.

Have you ever been here?
Polish Delicatessen
1322 W N Blvd Leesburg, FL 34748
(352) 365-1747
Deli
Today 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
I think it's the best around. Tell me what you think?

How about recreating the West Side Market in TV? :icon_hungry:

How do niche business' stay in business in other communities. Sure everyone wants to save a buck but the real question is are you willing to pay for a quality product.

To tell you the truth...I wasn't impressed! I bought their stuffed cabbage. I then bought stuffed cabbage from Toojays and then compared one of each at the same meal. It was Toojays by a long shot! My mother was great at making stuffed cabbage but unfortunately, I never got the recipe before she passed. One thing I do remember is that she used barley instead of rice. Try it sometime.
:a040:

If that did happen....Publix would become no more than a convenience store!! For all the good people of The Villages, please google the West Side Market in Cleveland Ohio. When any chef comes to the area to visit "The Iron Chef" Michael Symon they get a real treat as he takes them to The West Side Market to go shopping. This establishment reminds me of The Villages, you can talk about or try to explain it but, unless you experience it is very difficult to describe the ambiance.
:mademyday:

Best place ever and their butcher section can't be beat! We go several times a year and load the car with coolers for the trip back. Love that place. Nothing around here comes remotely close!