Originally Posted by ElDiabloJoe (Post 2324444)

Well, a lot of it is population density and average household disposable income. When I lived in South Orange County (CA), I had 3 Costcos within 15 minutes: two in Laguna Niguel and the one in San Juan Capistrano. I had 4 Trader Joe's within 10 minutes (Laguna Niguel, Laguna Beach, San Clemente, and Aliso Viejo). All the Costcos had food courts, tire stations, gas stations, pharmacies, and optometrists. The SJC one had a carwash!

However, South OC is quite dense and has an exceptionally high average household disposable income. It is not dense like NYC, but dense like L.A., with a higher household income. That is why shops like Tiffany, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, etc. are all either South Coast Plaza or Fashion Island malls. Many 2nd tier stores at nearby Shoppes at Mission Viejo also.

Not sure The Villages can boast that type of demographic that would encourage Costco to build yet a third Villages-adjacent store. Or TJ's even a single store : (

Originally Posted by Goldwingnut (Post 2324075)

This legitimate, they are coming!

Originally Posted by mrf0151 (Post 2324470)

Hope it will be a store the size of the Clermont store. That Costco is about twice the size of our Sams Club on 441. My gut tells me it will be a mini-Costco.

Originally Posted by ElDiabloJoe (Post 2324086)

If Don says so, then it's so!!!! All the Katie Bells cheapskates are gonna put Costco out of
business with the free samples and $1.50 hot dog/drink meals, hahaha!!

What's the over/under bet on who will be the first to ask if it's golf cart accessible (good luck getting your purchases home) and who will be the first to gripe about traffic/parking? How long until this makes it onto all the major Villages YouTube sites? The Developer should'a scooped this with the news themselves - lost opportunity to show they still control their PR narrative.

Man! The lines for gasoline are gonna be miles long!

P.S.- Kudos to Altavia to being the first to discover and disseminate this news! Next task: Trader Joe's. Not for the skinflints, however.

Originally Posted by WingedFoot78 (Post 2324486)

How about putting Whole Foods Market on your wish list

Originally Posted by justjim (Post 2324506)

The only thing that is a bit of surprise to me is the location. I thought Costco, when it came, would go south closer to State Route 44 and where the future middle of TV will be. But congrats to the Developers Commercial division for apparently landing such a deal.

Originally Posted by Joe C. (Post 2324453)

Traffic will be heavy when Costco first opens up. As soon as the novelty of exploring and shopping in this new store wears off, traffic will resume to normal levels. Just like when BJ's opened, it was a pain to go there. But now if you time it just right, it's a breeze. I shop there around 5pm and there's no traffic and not lots of people. It'll be the same when Costco opens for business.

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC (Post 2324458)

The Sun this AM is calling the Costco move preliminary. Interesting

Originally Posted by Altavia (Post 2324328)

Nope, Clermont is closer with less traffic.

Originally Posted by Michael 61 (Post 2324239)

This news made my day! Now Trader Joe’s will move to the top of many people’s wish list.

Originally Posted by Mleeja (Post 2324186)

Hate to be a Debbie Downer on Costco, but this is a terrible location. The traffic will be horrendous! One has to remember a Costco will draw customers from outside of The Villages. It is likely that both Wedgewood Lane and Woodbridge Drive will need to be increased to four lanes, stop lights, turn lanes, etc. The infrastructure is just not there to support a store this large.

I hope Costco comes to the area, just not here. Lastly, for the other commenters, I would think you will lose golf cart access to Costco and all the businesses west of the planned location.

Originally Posted by Mleeja (Post 2324186)

Hate to be a Debbie Downer on Costco, but this is a terrible location. The traffic will be horrendous! One has to remember a Costco will draw customers from outside of The Villages. It is likely that both Wedgewood Lane and Woodbridge Drive will need to be increased to four lanes, stop lights, turn lanes, etc. The infrastructure is just not there to support a store this large.

I hope Costco comes to the area, just not here. Lastly, for the other commenters, I would think you will lose golf cart access to Costco and all the businesses west of the planned location.

Originally Posted by jmaccallum (Post 2324525)

This location off 466 mirrors Costco’s location in Clermont exactly. Costco in Clermont is actually on Collina Terrace, which is just off and parallels Hwy 50 and is 2 lane. Costco in Buffalo Ridge will be on Wedgwood Lane which is just off and parallels Hwy 466 and is 2 lane. Hmmm, guess they do know what they’re doing. And golf carts shall go there, too, just like to Walmart and BJ’s (love how BJ’s has the golf cart parking up front :1rotfl:). South of 44, you’ll get the next one. :wave:

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter (Post 2324315)

Has the size of the store been announced?
Lose golf cart access? Nah. Them other stores will have a say.

Originally Posted by rustyp (Post 2324508)

You bring up a good point. I doubt TV owns the land on that side of the street. There are apartment and assisted living quarters on that side of the street. Also big box stores usually will not lease the land they are investing to build on. Not one big box store in TV on developer's land can I think of.

Originally Posted by rustyp (Post 2324508)

You bring up a good point. I doubt TV owns the land on that side of the street. There are apartment and assisted living quarters on that side of the street. Also big box stores usually will not lease the land they are investing to build on. Not one big box store in TV on developer's land can I think of.

Originally Posted by Ecuadog (Post 2324582)

TV owns the land.

Originally Posted by Altavia (Post 2324329)

Just the opposite. Costco builds where the market exists. They can be predatory to established business as they grab significant existing market share and recruit management and employees from those businesses.

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter (Post 2324483)

Todays Daily Sun.
162,000 square feet
700 parking spaces

Originally Posted by justjim (Post 2324557)

According to the Daily Sun the proposed Costco is 162,000 sq ft. The Clermont store according to Google is slightly smaller.

Originally Posted by WingedFoot78 (Post 2324486)

How about putting Whole Foods Market on your wish list

Originally Posted by mrf0151 (Post 2324470)

Hope it will be a store the size of the Clermont store. That Costco is about twice the size of our Sams Club on 441. My gut tells me it will be a mini-Costco.

Originally Posted by Jalane (Post 2324669)

When TV's partnership with another big developer to purchase and develop the area around the new interchange for I-75 was announced, I read that Cosco is planning to build a store there.

Originally Posted by mrf0151 (Post 2324745)

... We Villagers do not shop like we did when we were raising families. I have to think that the volume of sales at the Sams on 441 must be much lower than the national average.
My point is why would Costco build inside The Villages? I agree that a Costco location off highway 75 would make much more sense for corporate profits.

Originally Posted by jmaccallum (Post 2324525)

This location off 466 mirrors Costco’s location in Clermont exactly. Costco in Clermont is actually on Collina Terrace, which is just off and parallels Hwy 50 and is 2 lane. Costco in Buffalo Ridge will be on Wedgwood Lane which is just off and parallels Hwy 466 and is 2 lane. Hmmm, guess they do know what they’re doing. And golf carts shall go there, too, just like to Walmart and BJ’s (love how BJ’s has the golf cart parking up front :1rotfl:). South of 44, you’ll get the next one. :wave:

Originally Posted by Altavia (Post 2324975)

PDF of the plans in the proposal by The Villages are here:

http://www38.swfwmd.state.fl.us/Erp/...c/j2j0odmz.pdf

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC (Post 2324989)

Thanks for sharing did not realize that plot was so big.