[jeraldinemarie]

Does anyone know why there are still so many empty store spaces in Brownwood? I have heard so many times that xxx is going to open but it's not ready yet and yet 5 Guys and World of Beer didn't have any trouble getting opened in time for Jan. 2014. Just wondering if anyone has the scoop.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by jeraldinemarie

Does anyone know why there are still so many empty store spaces in Brownwood? I have heard so many times that xxx is going to open but it's not ready yet and yet 5 Guys and World of Beer didn't have any trouble getting opened in time for Jan. 2014. Just wondering if anyone has the scoop.

Guess the scoop is they are not ready to open.
The Villages Vmail - February 2014 - Coming Soon!

[jnieman]

It takes time. It will eventually happen. Brownwood has come a long way just in the past 6 months.

[justjim]

OP, with the new mortgage regulations it takes time and more documentation for a small business to get a loan these days. That could be a major factor but not the only one.

The "chain stores" are not expanding as rapidly as they did a few years ago.

The lease costs could be higher than some expected at Brownwood.

These are possible challenges but they are just "bumps in the road" given the potential development you will likely see in Brownwood.

[ROCKETMAN]

Cody's and gators dockside will be open in spring or early summer so that adds 2 restaurants that seat over 200 patrons to the mix. Also the tapas place.

[Shimpy]

Originally Posted by ROCKETMAN

Cody's and gators dockside will be open in spring or early summer so that adds 2 restaurants that seat over 200 patrons to the mix. Also the tapas place.

Still not a single place to get breakfast.

[russtcc]

Any chance of a Panera Bread?

[Shimpy]

Originally Posted by russtcc

Any chance of a Panera Bread?

I'm sure there will eventually be a Panera Bread, Dunkin Donut, or Starbucks. What I was hoping for was a place not just serving coffee and donuts or pastries but a full breakfast.......eggs, bacon, potatoes, pancakes, etc.

[Bonny]

Originally Posted by ROCKETMAN

Cody's and gators dockside will be open in spring or early summer so that adds 2 restaurants that seat over 200 patrons to the mix. Also the tapas place.

Not sure where you got your information, but Cody's is not opening until the fall. Some time in September is the goal.

[jimbo2012]

Originally Posted by justjim

The lease costs could be higher than some expected at Brownwood.

Bingo!

At $35 a Sq, retailers have many others choices, just like buying a house here they don't negotiate much.

Also the number of shoppers when the snowbirds are gone makes it harder for some biz to cover their overhead.

Have you been there in June or September?

[rayschic]

Originally Posted by Shimpy

I'm sure there will eventually be a Panera Bread, Dunkin Donut, or Starbucks. What I was hoping for was a place not just serving coffee and donuts or pastries but a full breakfast.......eggs, bacon, potatoes, pancakes, etc.

Does anyone know if the new Scooples has eggs, bacon, pancakes, etc ?
They are advertising that they need cooks for their restaurant which offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. I can't find a menu on-line.

[Bonny]

They plan on doing that in the future. Right now just light breakfasts.

[villagerjack]

Originally Posted by jimbo2012

Bingo!

At $35 a Sq, retailers have many others choices, just like buying a house here they don't negotiate much.

Also the number of shoppers when the snowbirds are gone makes it harder for some biz to cover their overhead.

Have you been there in June or September?

Why are these businesses not amply supported by the full time residents? A previous post made the case for more stores and restaurants to handle the presumed growth and "overcrowding" in The Villages and in this thread we seem to be suggesting a lack of support from full time residents who ironically complain about the "crowds", without which, most agree, we would have fewer not more, restaurants? If some of the small percentage of full time residents who complain about the "overcrowding" would rally the full time residents support of these businesses during the Low Season" then perhaps that would solve a part of the puzzle?

[buzzy]

What you see on TOTV does not represent the majority of residents

[Happydaz]

Originally Posted by villagerjack

Why are these businesses not amply supported by the full time residents? A previous post made the case for more stores and restaurants to handle the presumed growth and "overcrowding" in The Villages and in this thread we seem to be suggesting a lack of support from full time residents who ironically complain about the "crowds", without which, most agree, we would have fewer not more, restaurants? If some of the small percentage of full time residents who complain about the "overcrowding" would rally the full time residents support of these businesses during the Low Season" then perhaps that would solve a part of the puzzle?

It is a matter of numbers. Let's say there are twice the number of people here in the winter than in the summer. To keep things even in the summer season, the full time residents would have to go out to eat twice as much as they do in the winter. People here already go out often. You would have to eat out a lot to make up for the snowbirds flying north in the summer. There is no puzzle, it is just the seasonal flow of business.