I often heard people liked the cachet of having a private club. That always amused me. A private club for 100,000 people.

Because it won't survive financially.
The crap shops come to the square's markets already.

Perhaps a McKatie Belle for our neighbors.

How about a speak easy...have Katie b's as a saloon "front", and keep it designed to that era...bar, wait staff and bar food..

Then in the back a casino of sort...a few tables, wheels, a few rooms of poker..

Could be fun. Actually the front could be whatever bakery, a jazz club. If they did it right the planning board shouldn't even advertise the back, just let people discover it.

I went to Katie Belles in Oct 2018 and it was not very good. The food was bland and cold and the entertainment was a really lousy comic. Not surprised they closed. The business is ancient history and its not coming back. Time marches on and everything changes.

Katie Bell
 

We went to Katie Bells a lot, often we did not get a reservation so we just waited for a table. Our food was always great and the service was always superb. We especially enjoyed the singing waiters.

Except a few seniors.
:duck:

NO....I would never post such rudeness.

It seems, back in the day, many miserly Villagers would go to KBs and order one dinner, a second plate to share. Then they would hog the table all evening so they could stay and dance.

Pretty much that would happen. We have friends that do that to "save money" they say. We first went to Katie Belle's with our Life-style visit. As another OP said---back then (2008) it was hopping. Food was very good but it was crowded and loud. We don't dance so no attraction there. Then we moved here the next year. Around 2012-2013 we went a handful of times---lunch as well as dinner. I think the last couple of lunch visits---the food came out in plastic containers and wasn't good. I don't think SS is going to fail. The developer has a business plan and will let us know when they're ready. So many folks go on rumor or think they're experts on most everything (much of it critical) yet we all moved here. Back in the day someone on this site was complaining when I asked---"then why did you move here?" Their answer was, "I like the lifestyle!" SMH

And the Town board……….

Isn't Cipollone the same guy that proposed building a Gambling Casino where Hacienda Hills Country Club once stood and the same person that drove two Social Clubs in The Villages into the ground? I wonder what price the developer would put on that Van Patton House when the AAC has to buy it for this nutty plan to work.

His crazy reputation precedes him.

Skip

Make it a Destination
 

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.

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!

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.