Was also wondering about the cans. We were warned about this before we moved here.

In my opinion, the big mistake that was made concerning KB's was making it a resident only 'club'. This made many believe that it was an amenity rather than a business. They felt that since they were already paying for KB's to exist, they were not obligated to spend more money. Then when it changed and then closed, the outcry of "more taken away from us" was clear. Taken away as if it belonged to them.

Trust me. You aren’t missing anything. Highly overrated.

KB’s was resident only from the beginning, in 2007, one had to be with a resident to get in, unless you were on a life style visit, and then you had a special card to enter. But as I mentioned in 2007 KB’s was packed every night, waitlist over an hour, for dinner and people were spending more than $100 for 2.

In 2007, LSL newly constructed homes were selling like hot cakes. Spanish Springs was booming because of the newbies. In 2008, the real estate market crashed and KB was nearly empty every night. Before Lake Sumter Landing, the residents did not spend time at Katie Belles. There was no interest in the bakery, the fresh vegetable store, Rialto, or the church. A few restaurants and shops came and went. Residents came to the square to listen the free music and that was pretty much it. I was a realtor and we set up a tent every Monday and Thursday with the other vendors. We did this for six years. Our spot was in front of Katie Belles. We could see that it was empty until 8 pm.

Outsiders would go into Katie Belles but the residents went home. We would joke, "don't expect a villager to stay past 9 p.m!" Like clockwork, the square emptied each night. Once they made KB residents only(again), it was busy because they were giving out free passes to people on Life Style Visits. They gave free passes to the Rialto, as well. Once LSL was complete, KB was empty and they made changes trying to lure the residents. The changes did not work.

The Rialto closed for renovation right before COVID-19 hit. Then, while it was closed, COVID-19 hit, and all theatres were closed down for the pandemic. The owners had no need or reason to continue renovation at that point, so they stopped. MPV (or whatever the Gym is called now) chose to move their fitness club to the Rialto, and now renovations are happening to accommodate a fitness center instead of a movie theatre.

I lived in NJ too, for 16 years. We would get off at exit 117 or 114, depending on which direction we were coming from. Exit at 114 from the Monmouth Mall or exit 117 from parts north.

We were more inclined to go to KB in the summer to see our favorite entertainers in the comfort of air conditioned air. We don't care to go to the squares in the hohum weather. This is the reason we miss KB.

That too!

This ^^^^^^^.

No trash cans in the LSL area either. I was wondering about that post too that mentioned "trash cans". I didn't think they were allowed anywhere in The Villages.

Turning the building into apartments will be great…….Another pool for anyone to use no questions asked!!

We visited here around 2005? I think, and we had a relative who took us there for lunch. Totally NOT impressed. Then when we moved here a couple years later, we went at night a few times. Saturday nights it was packed - you had to get there very early to get seating around the dance floor, and you couldn't just drink, had to order food. I think it was probably a pickup/singles venue but there were all sorts of people there. I remember having fun watching the dancers, some were almost at a professional level. And once the entertainment on the square ended, there would be even more people clamoring to come in. It was a really fun scene and it was packed. It did have the charm of a saloon, and the food for dinner upstairs at the Cattle Baron restaurant was on par with what you get at most of the country clubs, basically just okay, but you had a great view of the activity below. We took guests there for dinner, then dancing after, and they loved it. The remodel and moving things upstairs completely changed the ambience and people didn't come back.

The original Katie Belle's was a fun place to go. It was for Villagers only and was always packed. I used to go frequently and don't buy the excuse that patrons sipped lemon water. Many of us went for dinner and drinks and dancing. It was the only place to go and get dressed and dance indoors where I felt safe as a single woman. I'll never believe it didn't make money, only that the Developer had other plans. I miss Katie Belle's and I don't care if I am beating a dead horse. The Develper took that away as well as our movie theater.

So, you believe that 'The Developer' closed a business that was making money because of other plans. Interesting.