[kingofbeer]

Originally Posted by CrosbyStills

The extensive use of adjectives like "Premier," "First-Class" and "Unique-to-Market shops" raise a high bar of expectation. If they don't want to disappoint, they should dial it back down to something more reasonably likely. When they say Premier and First-class, I'm expecting to see shops and retail that is largely higher end. Higher end, like Tiffany, Tesla, Prada, Dior, D&G, Balenciega, Hermes, etc.

I'm not interested in most of that super high end, but I'd be very happy to see things like Anthropologie, Crate & Barrel, an Apple Store, Lululemon, MAC, The North Face, an REI, Pottery Barn, See's Candies, Total Wine (or BevMo), Williams-Sonoma (might compete with the Sur La Table going into Eastport), Oakley, Gorjana, Restoration Hardware, North Italia, etc.

While I'm not sure The Villages and the surrounding region can support this level of retail, that is the bar of expectation the Developer is setting with their announcement. If it's more banks, tire stores, and mattress stores, I'm going to be very disappointed.

It's like Daddy always said, better to under-sell and over-deliver than to over-sell and under-deliver.

I'm not, and never have been, a commercial landlord. However, it seems the balancing line between maximizing tenant rental income and having a thriving, dynamic, energetic environment in which to attract more home buyers (the fly for which the honey is intended) needs to be adjusted.

Will The Developer make less money if they lower rents a dollar/sq foot? Of course. But this is not their only income stream. If a retail plaza was their sole holding, then maximizing rental income is THE priority.

However, would fully occupied town centers filled with the busy-ness and buzz of abundant foot traffic and increased shopper traffic be worth the cost (income loss) or is just better when the town centers are ghost towns. I mean, immediately around the squares are occupied, but the tentacles stretching outward tend to end up lawyer and CPA offices, medical suites, escrow offices, etc.

I would argue that a dynamic, high-volume, fully occupied retail and dining space is far more attractive than the tapering off into empty store fronts that exists at LSL and Brownwood currently.

You must be dreaming. This is not Naples or Sarasota or Tampa or Orlando. The demographic is middle-class to upper-middle-class. Lots of ham and eggers here. Just regular people. Not highly educated.

Stores would be more like this outdoor shopping center in South Florida Homepage | Promenade at Coconut Creek | Coconut Creek.

"Anthropologie, Crate & Barrel, an Apple Store, Lululemon, MAC, The North Face, an REI, Pottery Barn, See's Candies, Total Wine (or BevMo), Williams-Sonoma (might compete with the Sur La Table going into Eastport), Oakley, Gorjana, Restoration Hardware, North Italia, etc."

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by kingofbeer

You must be dreaming. This is not Naples or Sarasota or Tampa or Orlando. The demographic is middle-class to upper-middle-class. Lots of ham and eggers here. Just regular people. Not highly educated.

Stores would be more like this outdoor shopping center in South Florida Homepage | Promenade at Coconut Creek | Coconut Creek.

"Anthropologie, Crate & Barrel, an Apple Store, Lululemon, MAC, The North Face, an REI, Pottery Barn, See's Candies, Total Wine (or BevMo), Williams-Sonoma (might compete with the Sur La Table going into Eastport), Oakley, Gorjana, Restoration Hardware, North Italia, etc."

Pretty sure the point is- this developer needs to stop referring to it with terms like "Premier," "First-Class" and "Unique-to-Market shops" if they're not going to deliver ACTUAL "Premier," "First Class," or "Unique-to-Market shops."

Premier is not Crate & Barrel. You can get MAC at Ulta and Sephora. Even See's wouldn't be unique to market, since we have a few chocolate shops right here in The Villages and another one just outside it on 301. All the brands listed are highER-end than what we have here now. But that's like comparing McDonald's with Outback Steakhouse, or Panera with ChopHouse. Those higher end restaurants still aren't the Three Six Bistro.

[Normal]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

Pretty sure the point is- this developer needs to stop referring to it with terms like "Premier," "First-Class" and "Unique-to-Market shops" if they're not going to deliver ACTUAL "Premier," "First Class," or "Unique-to-Market shops."

Premier is not Crate & Barrel. You can get MAC at Ulta and Sephora. Even See's wouldn't be unique to market, since we have a few chocolate shops right here in The Villages and another one just outside it on 301. All the brands listed are highER-end than what we have here now. But that's like comparing McDonald's with Outback Steakhouse, or Panera with ChopHouse. Those higher end restaurants still aren't the Three Six Bistro.

It certainly could or will be a conglomeration of both. Couldn’t a Nordstrom’s share the same plaza as a Marshall’s, or a McDonalds or Cheddars share the same plaza next to a Brazilian Steakhouse? 200 plus stores and restaurants is a very large complex, certainly even out sizing an Outlet mall.

[kingofbeer]

Originally Posted by Normal

It certainly could or will be a conglomeration of both. Couldn’t a Nordstrom’s share the same plaza as a Marshall’s, or a McDonalds or Cheddars share the same plaza next to a Brazilian Steakhouse? 200 plus stores and restaurants is a very large complex, certainly even out sizing an Outlet mall.

"Couldn’t a Nordstrom’s share the same plaza as a Marshall’s". Spitballin' at it's best. That's like having a Chevy dealership next to a Range Rover dealership.

[Normal]

Originally Posted by kingofbeer

"Couldn’t a Nordstrom’s share the same plaza as a Marshall’s". Spitballin' at it's best. That's like having a Chevy dealership next to a Range Rover dealership.

It’s just plain old normal behavior. I’d shop both. It depends on what I need.

[[email protected]]

Isn’t it a good assumption that if the promo for Legacy Place says 200+ shops, and the developer’s most recent prior FL development of University Town Center has 200 shops that they would be “similar” retailers?
University Town Center Sarasota: Best Shopping and Dining
I’ll start the rumor…we are getting Trader Joes…

[CrosbyStills]

Originally Posted by [email protected]

Isn’t it a good assumption that if the promo for Legacy Place says 200+ shops, and the developer’s most recent prior FL development of University Town Center has 200 shops that they would be “similar” retailers?
University Town Center Sarasota: Best Shopping and Dining
I’ll start the rumor…we are getting Trader Joes…

Good for you! Actually, TJ's would be an ideal store. If the options are similar to the UTC you linked, I would be happy. Those are solid, upscale (but not Premier or High end) options. A few Villages-specific stores would also be popular. I mean stores for products that a lot of Villagers use / buy. Yeti for one. GCI Outdoor for another. Polywood for a third.

[Altavia]

Originally Posted by [email protected]

Isn’t it a good assumption that if the promo for Legacy Place says 200+ shops, and the developer’s most recent prior FL development of University Town Center has 200 shops that they would be “similar” retailers?
University Town Center Sarasota: Best Shopping and Dining
I’ll start the rumor…we are getting Trader Joes…

Maybe?

This is clearly intended as a regional destination drawing customers from Orlando to Ocala. There are significant pockets of wealth in the surounding (non-Villages) areas.