[Wrhobson]

I own a local hurricane panel distributorship that I plan to sell in the Spring (I am 75). You might want to take a look at storm windows,hurricane window protection,storm. My wife and I have run this business (no other employees) since 2006.

Originally Posted by gent3278

My wife and I are in our mid 50’s and would love to move to The Villages very soon. We are looking to stay working and may open a business down there. We currently own a very busy breakfast and lunch restaurant and also have 25 years experience owning a Vacuum sales and service business. Which one of the 2 would be a good fit in that area?

[oneclickplus]

Originally Posted by gent3278

My wife and I are in our mid 50’s and would love to move to The Villages very soon. We are looking to stay working and may open a business down there. We currently own a very busy breakfast and lunch restaurant and also have 25 years experience owning a Vacuum sales and service business. Which one of the 2 would be a good fit in that area?

I never understood (and still don't) why vacuums have their own sales / service niche. I mean, no one has ever knocked on my door offering to sell me a toaster oven or a microwave or a bread maker.

My answer: too much gubmint control over the restaurant business and I doubt the vacuum business (regardless of your experience) will do well down here.

Suggest you open a funeral home. You won't have to worry about supply chain issues and it's not something that the government can really close. Plenty of potential customers all around plus even more when the long-term effects of these shots kick in.

[DAVES]

Originally Posted by NoMo50

How about a golf car accessible, drive-thru liquor store?

That is an interesting idea for this Old Folks Disneyland. I would bet permits etc would be difficult. Needing to get out of your car and walk to a liquor store is likely an old assumed sobriety test.

[Decadeofdave]

Forget brick and mortar, your best bet is some kind of on line store. One of my friends sells headsets to call centers on line, sales over 500k/year.

[DAVES]

Originally Posted by thevillages2013

Combo. Omelette and biscuits and gravy while you wait on your vacuum repair

Not that strange. There are places, I think it started in Europe, where they have books and serve coffee. Barnes and Nobel did or does that. Coffee stains on the,"new," book you are buying? There was a big place in New York City with used books. I walked past many times. I do wonder about the plan. People hanging out but where is the money in it.

[DAVES]

Originally Posted by oneclickplus

I never understood (and still don't) why vacuums have their own sales / service niche. I mean, no one has ever knocked on my door offering to sell me a toaster oven or a microwave or a bread maker.

My answer: too much gubmint control over the restaurant business and I doubt the vacuum business (regardless of your experience) will do well down here.

Suggest you open a funeral home. You won't have to worry about supply chain issues and it's not something that the government can really close. Plenty of potential customers all around plus even more when the long-term effects of these shots kick in.

Re: selling vacuums door to door
There have been many successful businesses that I for one wonder how they find people to do this. Tupperware in a famous one. Amway-there was a time when you could not walk down the street in New York City without someone trying to get you to sign up for a sell amway presentation. A bit of math, the bulk of the sales were the sample kits they sold to recruited sales people.
Vacuums the famous brand was Kirby. They were well made, expensive and sold on an installment plan.

So many people say there is no opportunity here. Most of us, walk past opportunity everyday and don't see it. If, we do see it, we say, I saw that but I didn't do it. Someone else did and was successful. I shoulda, coulda, mighta but didn'ta

[Redsmom]

Originally Posted by gent3278

My wife and I are in our mid 50’s and would love to move to The Villages very soon. We are looking to stay working and may open a business down there. We currently own a very busy breakfast and lunch restaurant and also have 25 years experience owning a Vacuum sales and service business. Which one of the 2 would be a good fit in that area?

Here’s a thought: why not a breakfast only restaurant that is drive-through only, selling homemade breakfast sandwiches and terrific coffee. For me and my husband that would be awesome and I don’t think we are unusual. And if you stayed open till about one or two in the afternoon for those late sleepers, you could really do well I think.

[Nell57]

One more idea.
Open a little storefront deli and feature “Grab and Go” meals., We used to have that in Sumter Landing. The meals were in a deli case… usually dinner for two for about $20. The food was fantastic.
For a variation of this idea, check out Bodega Market, Tipp City Ohio… Google or Facebook.
Villagers love to eat homemade meals… but their kitchen is the least used room in the house.,

[DAVES]

Originally Posted by Deb1093

I think that there will always be a need for restaurants here. We could use more choices south of 44. I don’t see a vacuum business doing as well. Although, I understand the restaurant business being a tough business these days. But, we older people do enjoy eating out! 😉

Every business is a tough business. Many years ago, trying to decide what to do with my life, I read a book about business. I don't recall the title but I do recall in terms of failure rates, restaurants are have among the highest failure rates. Mortisioners, suggested by someone else have among the lowest. The goal of business is to make money. That is far different than a hobby where you, I do give stuff away.

[golfgal44]

[QUOTE=gent3278;2012927]My wife and I are in our mid 50’s and would love to move to The Villages very soon. We are looking to stay working and may open a business down there. We currently own a very busy breakfast and lunch restaurant and also have 25 years experience owning a Vacuum sales and service business. Which one of the 2 would be a good fit in that area?[/QUOTE

I’ve visited T.V. a number of times now and I’ll be relocating from Long Island, in a few months. T.V. Is a beautiful place, but I have yet to find a New York quality restaurant. “GOOD” dining places are very few and far between. Don’t know where you are coming from but if you have a dining establishment with “New York quality” products, you’ll do great. Also, another rarity, almost non-existent, are good bakeries with fresh rolls, cookies, pastries. Publix is the only game in town.

[laboutj]

Golf cart Uber service. Get a couple of six-seaters and camp out near the squares.

[DAVES]

Originally Posted by thevillages2013

Well the ones hired to do the cleaning would need a vacuum store but the reality is that vacuum cleaners are relatively inexpensive still. A certified refurbished Shark is between $99 and $130. They come packaged in a box and look brand new. And yes they work just as well as the Dyson that people pay $400+ for. Vacuums have become disposable

As far as disposable, that is true of most things. The reason why our landfills etc are filling up. We cannot fight progress. Remember televisions? Our first TV was an American made Dumont. It was B&W and can you imagine you had to get up out of the chair to change the channel. It was 21 inch. Neighbors thought my parents won the lottery or whatever. It was $500. Today that would be ????? $5,000. Today your TV quits working and you toss it. We had two 21 inch color sets. I think they cost like $200 new.
They were working fine and even the thrift stores wouldn't take them for free. Things are no longer made to be repairable. People will not pay the initial cost. I am, I think many others are old enough to remember when a faucet leaked it was either the washer, cost about a nickle. or the seat, a good one was like a quarter. Today you need the company made assembly cost like thirty dollars and it is likely all the ones in your home are not the same assembly.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by Redsmom

Here’s a thought: why not a breakfast only restaurant that is drive-through only, selling homemade breakfast sandwiches and terrific coffee. For me and my husband that would be awesome and I don’t think we are unusual. And if you stayed open till about one or two in the afternoon for those late sleepers, you could really do well I think.

The problem is covering overhead including rent when you are only open a few hours.

[DAVES]

[QUOTE=golfgal44;2013323]

Originally Posted by gent3278

My wife and I are in our mid 50’s and would love to move to The Villages very soon. We are looking to stay working and may open a business down there. We currently own a very busy breakfast and lunch restaurant and also have 25 years experience owning a Vacuum sales and service business. Which one of the 2 would be a good fit in that area?[/QUOTE

I’ve visited T.V. a number of times now and I’ll be relocating from Long Island, in a few months. T.V. Is a beautiful place, but I have yet to find a New York quality restaurant. “GOOD” dining places are very few and far between. Don’t know where you are coming from but if you have a dining establishment with “New York quality” products, you’ll do great. Also, another rarity, almost non-existent, are good bakeries with fresh rolls, cookies, pastries. Publix is the only game in town.

We too are ex-Long Islanders. This is not New York. Truth we moved to The Villages to escape New York. A New York quality restaurant, many of them the prices were/are out of sight. Many patrons are on expense accounts, spending not their but the bosses money. There are several good restaurants close to the Villages.

New York and New York metro you can find most anything the good and the bad. Truth, I miss the snow, I miss the fall trees. I do not at all miss the Long Island Railroad. The Long Island ?????? express way??????????, The Northern State Parkway-supposed ot be a road but it is a PARKway. The Southern State also PARKway that latter changes name to The Belt PARKway or perhaps better renamed Pothole endless detour-way. Parking in Brooklyn or Queens. Oh and tourists from Florida on vacation in NY.

Do not forget. If you decide to move here you as we did decided to leave New York. I know more than one. They remarry due to death or issues and then tell their new spouse how much better their first spouse was.

[Bertram00]

Originally Posted by gent3278

My wife and I are in our mid 50’s and would love to move to The Villages very soon. We are looking to stay working and may open a business down there. We currently own a very busy breakfast and lunch restaurant and also have 25 years experience owning a Vacuum sales and service business. Which one of the 2 would be a good fit in that area?

You should definitely open a restaurant - it's very easy to find help...🤣🤣🤣