[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by Nana2Teddy

Where do you live that you have trash cans? We are south of 44 and can only put plastic trash bags at the curb for trash pickup, not cans. If you put out a can the trash collectors with throw the can into the trash truck. I guess I assumed (incorrectly?) that it was like this throughout all of The Villages.

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

[Marathon Man]

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.

[Just jimmy]

Originally Posted by Michael 61

There are more and more of us “newbies” who arrived after Katie Belle’s bit the dust - I know some of the more seasoned residents talk about this place with great fondness, so I feel bad for their loss of
this establishment.

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

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by margaretmattson

I moved here in 2002. Katie Belles was never a big thing. I remember visitors and outsiders going there more than the residents. Eventually, some Villagers squawked that they could never get a table and they made it residents only. I went a few times and it was not busy. The Rialto, church, bakery, fresh vegetable store and many restaurants also failed to attract residents. It was the first square and the family kept experimenting. When they built the Sharon Morse Center, things started to turn around. For awhile, Katie Belles was busy during the winter months but in the summer it was empty.

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.

[margaretmattson]

Originally Posted by asianthree

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.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Randall55

I was here when Spanish Springs was built. From the get-go, the Rialto and Katie Belles were not attractions the majority of residents used frequently. They tried several ways to strum up business and each failed. I am not surprised the theatre and KB closed. What I can't understand is why it took so long.

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.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by Whitley

I may be delusional but do not see myself as old. All of my friends, yes they are old. Not me though. I assume you are from NJ (or have a weird way of picking a user name) What exit? Seriously what part?

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.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by margaretmattson

I moved here in 2002. Katie Belles was never a big thing. I remember visitors and outsiders going there more than the residents. Eventually, some Villagers squawked that they could never get a table and they made it residents only. I went a few times and it was not busy. The Rialto, church, bakery, fresh vegetable store and many restaurants also failed to attract residents. It was the first square and the family kept experimenting. When they built the Sharon Morse Center, things started to turn around. For awhile, Katie Belles was busy during the winter months but in the summer it was empty.

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.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by Lukim

I loved the architecture and ambiance of Katie Belles. I miss the beauty.

That too!

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by rochellepfaff

You haven't been here long enough to remember the original Katie Bell's. It was downstairs in the same building. It was a saloon with a dance floor, and only for Villages residents and their guests. They had entertainment in the afternoon. And a really good Sunday buffet brunch. We used to go for lunch and dancing. We loved it. Upstairs was The Cattle Baron restaurant - a more upscale steak house. You could look over the balcony railing and see the entertainment and people dancing downstairs. It was very disappointing when they moved Katie Bell's upstairs and changed the design and menu. The saloon had so much more charm and great entertainment in the evenings. We always took our out-of-town visitors there. We never took them to the remodeled one upstairs. It had no charm at all. And the food was ordinary.

This ^^^^^^^.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by Nana2Teddy

Where do you live that you have trash cans? We are south of 44 and can only put plastic trash bags at the curb for trash pickup, not cans. If you put out a can the trash collectors with throw the can into the trash truck. I guess I assumed (incorrectly?) that it was like this throughout all of The Villages.

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.

[TEXJK]

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

[mickey100]

Originally Posted by Michael 61

There are more and more of us “newbies” who arrived after Katie Belle’s bit the dust - I know some of the more seasoned residents talk about this place with great fondness, so I feel bad for their loss of this establishment.

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.

[mraines]

Originally Posted by Michael 61

There are more and more of us “newbies” who arrived after Katie Belle’s bit the dust - I know some of the more seasoned residents talk about this place with great fondness, so I feel bad for their loss of this establishment.

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.

[Marathon Man]

Originally Posted by mraines

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.