[kkingston57]

Originally Posted by dewilson58

Can't wait to see the business plan to support the wacko idea.

1st they need to FIND the person/business who might want to take this on. Also, this business would need to compete with the free (included in the amenity price) concerts in the square.

[kkingston57]

Originally Posted by oldtimes

Why don’t they create 7 little craft shops like they have in Mt Dora

On the 2nd floor?

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by Joe C.

If they re-opened Katie Belle's, it would only be a matter of time before someone complains about the food, service, or entertainment. It would be just like any other venue that get slighted.

Need to find a good use for the second floor. What about a house of ill ____>

[Two Bills]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

Need to find a good use for the second floor. What about a house of ill ____>

Not another one.
Margarita Republic already got Spanish Springs covered!

[PugMom]

Originally Posted by rustyp

A new story from the unmentionable news source today (author Meta Minton):

Villagers are embracing a proposal to have the Amenity Authority Committee revive Katie Belle’s and return dining and dancing to residents.

Community Development District 2 Supervisor Jim Cipollone has raised the idea of the AAC using its money and authority to revive Katie Belle’s as an amenity. His suggestion came on the eve of a Lady Lake Commission meeting in which The Villages was expected to attempt to ram through its plan for seven age-restricted apartments at the Van Patten House at Spanish Springs Town Square.

“I wholeheartedly support the idea of reviving Katie Belle’s. It was a great place to take guests or to have a date night with my wife. When we went there we totally enjoyed the experience. I think the idea of apartments is absurd,” said Don Atkinson, a resident of the Village of Santo Domingo.


Cipollone’s proposal has prompted many to remember the golden years of Katie Belle’s, which The Villages officially closed in 2020, blaming COVID-19.


“I support the idea of the AAC reviving Katie Belle’s. I feel that they should give Katie Belle’s back to The Villagers for what it was intended for not for renting out apartments for who knows who will living in them. The restaurant and the dance hall were an excellent place for entertainment and fine food,” said Villager Tom Hickman.

Villager Pat Kress said the secret to making Katie Belle’s successful again would be treating it like a true amenity and only admitting Villagers with Villages IDs.

“The Spanish Springs square is really going downhill as there is a lot of alcohol being abused by outsiders. Katie Belle’s was only intended for the Village people by showing their ID cards to get in. Completely different crowd attended,” Kress said.



Twenty-year resident of The Villages Lorraine Martin is all for the AAC reclaiming Katie Belle’s on behalf of residents.

“The AAC should devise a plan to keep Katie Belle’s as an amenity for the residents. The Villages is destroying the north end of The Villages. They are all about greed now that the older owners have passed away. It is a shame at what they are doing,” Martin said.

Cheryl Seyfert of the Santo Domingo Villas applauded Cipollone for coming up with a creative idea for bringing back Katie Belle’s.

“Finally, a reasonable solution to reviving Spanish Springs Town Square. The revival of Katie Belle’s, rather than apartments. It would give us the desired place to go, help guarantee music in the area, and return us to the golden days of why we bought homes in the area,” Seyfert said.

“We need to support this idea and bring it to fruition! Bravo to the wisdom of the people!” she said.

could it be me, or was the idea more of wishful thinking?

[PugMom]

Originally Posted by thevillages2013

Hope there isn’t a picture of you hanging out with some of those notorious “Shady Ladies”

no, just the 'Fun Girls,'

[coralway]

Villages couldn't financially keep it open before, what makes them think it would be any different now?

[rustyp]

Originally Posted by rustyp

Hot off the unmentionable press:

An official has raised the idea of the Amenity Authority Committee reviving Katie Belle’s as an amenity for Villagers.

Community Development District 2 Supervisor Jim Cipollone raised the idea on the eve of a meeting in which The Villages will go before the Lady Lake Commission with its latest pitch for seven age-restricted apartments at the former dining and dance hall which was once the toast of The Villages.

The Villages could have a single tenant – the AAC.

Perhaps Mr Cipollone's strategy was to rally the troops on the eve of the vote. Without his announcement would there have been an overflowing audience in attendance. Did the presence of a large audience pressure the commissioners away from a rubber stamp ? Plenty of time now to talk about Katie Belle's resurrection in the future. If the developer got the rubber stamp last night game would have been over. FYI why would the developer ever consider renting the property to the AAC ?

Me thinks Mr Cipollone just outsmarted Goliath and won the first battle. Unfortunately I foresee the war continuing.

[bagboy]

FYI why would the developer ever consider renting the property to the AAC ? I would bet against it.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by bagboy

FYI why would the developer ever consider renting the property to the AAC ? I would bet against it.

For the right price why not?

[Lychee]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

Wonder why they were not busy as we have heard food was good and location excellent.

They were not busy because the food incl Salad Bar was not good. And no
Atmosphere, just like a simple Tablecloth.
We now Katie Bell from 2003 on and at that time it was a real treat and
special to out there. Either Upstairs for Dinner or Downstairs for a Drink and
Finger food and dance or just listening to the first class entertainment.

[Susan1951]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

If the ACC were to go through with this, IMHO they would need to partner up with a restauranter with a known successful track record. cover charge, coupled to a discount on drink/food purchases sounds like a good idea. I liked the original design, but that is probably not possible now. Some redecorating needs to be done as well as an updated menu, and a new state of the art sound system, where the sound level in close to the same over the entire area.

we purchased back in 1998, Katie Belles was just about to be finished, it was one of the reasons why we bought into the Villages there was nothing like this for miles around. It was always full to capacity both upstairs and downstairs , how they can say it didnt make money is beyond me.

[Spalumbos62]

Originally Posted by BostonRich

It doesn't have to come back as a single restaurant. It could come back as a resident only "social center" with things like pool tables, dart boards, vintage pin ball machines and other supervised games.

Keep the bar of course and make the food area a food court with a few different smaller food kitchens rented out to people with food service knowledge like the food truck entrepreneurs offering different menu items.

Plenty of room for adding entertainment and special events and making it a real resident destination. Never got to experience the two story version but that would be awesome to see.

It would become a place to go again and liven up the square especially during the day before the entertainment begins. It would keep more people in the square all day and that would be good for all businesses.

I like your idea...food court/truck, bar, games etc...
I think it would be a nice draw...not everyone can sit outside at a square perimeter restaurant daily...yet may watch to get started with having fun...kudos to this...

[Spalumbos62]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

You must have a dirty mind... All the sign says is that the bar is up front and they play poker in the back...

Some people... Disgusting!

Nice try buddy...

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by Spalumbos62

Nice try buddy...