The Publix on 466a is the highest grossing Publix in the ENTIRE chain I heard recently from someone who I trust.

The Walmart of which you speak is frequented by the locals and it is older but has many things we couldn't find at the other two. Personally I liked it and went there a lot when we lived in Hadley.

The opening of stores is based on the economy. Someone said that no major mall has opened in the entire U.S. in the last ten years. I am not sure of the validity of the statement, but it wouldn't surprise me.

Expansion is on hold for a lot of major chains these days. I feel sure that they are consulting the demographers and our area and the area close to 466a is high on their lists and new locations will open as soon as things get a little better economically everywhere.

Many people who recently built new homes near 466 may have done so because it was close to existing stores. We didn't do it for that reason but find it very convenient as I am sure Jane does in her Village and Barefoot certainly does because she moved from one home to the other in Belvedere.

When we lived in Hadley it was a little farther to drive to Lowes and Home Depot and it seemed we were there a lot when you are outfitting a new home, but it was no farther than it was from our home in Ohio. (or is it further?...sorry Mrs. Belcher)

The developer will gladly build when they get contracts from chains and stores...so we can't blame him.

As Bogie Shooter often says. Patience, Grasshopper.

Gracie, I certainly agree. I do know one fairly new mall. This summer when we drove up to Ocala, there was a relatively new mall there that was lovely. It was also almost completely empty. We asked at one of the few stores open and were told it was full when built a few years ago, but when the economy collapsed, so it it.

While this is a trend nation wide, it is much worse in areas that depend heavily on tourism. I also wonder how businesses in TV feel about 3 really busy months, and 9 not so much. That's got to be difficult.

I'm sure that new southern area will develop, but I think it will be slowly. I couldn't help but notice how many empty space there were up around Walmart and to the east. Sure looked like they planned on building a lot more stuff there than ever happened.

If the mall you are referring to is out on SR 200...........that mall was never full.

I guess it depends on what you "need". I have never felt the need for such a place.

Walmart has tremendous buying power because it has so many stores and is able to get things cheaper for that reason. The cost of food is escalating so fast recently it certainly has MY attention. You can buy staples, cereal, flour, cleaning supplies, and many other things there quite a bit cheaper than other places.

I don't really like the fresh produce for some reason, it doesn't look all spiffily kept like Publix but who really knows about where your parsnips have been? ;)

Some people have other reasons for not shopping there, but it hasn't kept me from going there.

I had folks over to dinner last week and paid...SEVENTEEN dollars for a chuck roast to feed five.

I know. I sound old.:grumpy:

not old, gracie, experienced.

Wal-Mart's latest trend seems to be building grocery-only stores throughout Florida. These stores are much smaller, sell only groceries - no clothes, no tires, etc. - and are designed to fit into the neighborhoods; ie no big box stores. At least a half dozen have opened in the Tampa area in the past year and seem to be very successful.

Publix needs some competition or they will be able to charge $10 for a loaf of bread. They bought most of the Albertson's, Sweet Bay is teetering on the brink, and this leaves only Publix, Winn-Dixie and Wal-Mart. Hopefully these new Wal-Mart stores will help by competing with others to keep prices lower.

What would be to tolerate there?

....is just the Sweet Bay portion "teetering on the brink".......
or is their parent company.. FOOD-LION in trouble also ???

I stay away from stores that advertise a sale price which is only for their customers that carry their card. Maybe no problem for a woman carrying a purse, but I'm not going to bother.

Sweet Bay is owned by Belgium-based Delhaize Group. The articles I've read in the newspaper say they cannot compete with the big chains; Publix and Wal-Mart.


Sweetbay store closings driven by Publix, Wal-Mart pressure, sagging parent company performance | Tampa Bay business news blog: Venture | Tampa Bay Times

We need Krogers.

Or...I have heard a LOTof good stuff about a grocery store chain in Buffalo and in the eastern part of the US. I think it has two names.

I really miss Krogers......and Meijers.....
Triple coupons up to $2.00. Although they might not do that anymore.

Could you be talking about Wegmans? If so, it is based out of Rochester, NY. I will miss shopping at Wegmans when I retire this summer and start spending my winters at my home in The Villages!

Wegmans was again named by Fortune as one of "100 best companies to work for" for the 15th consecutive year.

Out of control children and people showing parts of their bodies I really would rather not see in the grocery store. To each his own.