If it's the place I found, it's a 45 min drive from my house. Might as well be in Ocala. And there's a waiting list. And the rent is $1500/mo -- that's a mortgage with no resale value.

If somebody built a building like that and started SELLING the units, that place in Wildwood would be empty in a month.

The major difference?

The busy season population back then is now the slow season population!!

They would have to be sold as condo units if the local leaders would allow it, you will then have condo fees, and the cost of land plus building costs today would make them very expensive. I bought a 16 x42 unit with heat and no air up north in 1997 at a cost of $42,000.00, I couldn't even guess what one would cost today and down here they will need AC. The fact that there is a waiting list on the rental units would make one tend to believe that is what should be built as an investment

Indian food

There is a website for finding help in any area of the country including around the villages. Its called taskrabbit.com

Surprised there is no italian ice kiosk or stand alone stores around here.

A good sandwich shop on the Historic side, open buildings are available,

Jeremiah's an Italian Ice store just opened in Trailwinds next to Marcos.

Had one, did not make it. Not enough custom for Indian Food.

I am very late in joining this post; however, I saw an ad recently for a company called MedHaul. A woman somewhere recognized the necessity for transportation for elderly people needing to get back and forth from their medical appointments and started this company. Great idea for TV.

Transportation is desperately needed in TV.

I did not read all the replies, but has anyone suggested a rental service that rents things for kids. Anything for a high chair, car seats, fishing poles, squirt guns, games, bikes, tricycles, footballs, bats all the things grandkids did not bring with them. Things that for the most part grandma and grandpa just don’t have around the house anymore.

There are a few, but you have to act early and fast.
rent baby stuff the villages fl - Google Search

There's Michele's, they have pretty good chili and they're apparently well known for their schnitzels and meatloaf sandwiches.

They just opened an Italian ice place in Trailwinds next to Marcos Pizza.
Someone said they also sell gelato.

After reading all of these I have decided there is a need for a new Lionel model train store in the area so I am opening Nick's Vintage Trains in the remodeled old hobby shop located at 113 N. Main Street in Wildwood directly across from the Wildwood City Hall. Everything is going well for a mid-September opening except for the red tape involved in getting a sign permit from the City, a city that wants to attract new downtown businesses. Anyway I will have a large inventory of prewar and postwar O gauge trains along with new Lionel and Williams trains along with Woodland Scenic O scale structures. Watch for the opening and hope to meet some of you at the store in the near future.