[Ignatz]

I agree with tophcfa in that I didn’t see anything pitched that is going to revitalize SS.

Hope they come up with something. We like driving up there and would like to see things to keep us going there.

[HappyTraveler]

Originally Posted by Ignatz

I agree with tophcfa in that I didn’t see anything pitched that is going to revitalize SS.

Hope they come up with something. We like driving up there and would like to see things to keep us going there.

You both need to watch the video again. It is there and the newspaper article provided more detail about it.

[mbene]

I'm pretty sure that Spanish Springs will be okay. There is a constant turnover of homes up north as the original owners either leave or pass on and they're not being replaced by 80 or 90 year olds.

[FloridaGuy66]

Originally Posted by mbene

I'm pretty sure that Spanish Springs will be okay. There is a constant turnover of homes up north as the original owners either leave or pass on and they're not being replaced by 80 or 90 year olds.

It's not as simple as that. Spanish Springs caters to an older demographic and doesn't draw the non-Villages locals like LSL and Brownwood do. We were out for dinner last night at Brownwood in fact at 9pm since we like to eat late. We had to go on a waiting list to go into one of the restaurants that we wanted to dine at, and it would've been the same for most restaurants in the square. Our waiter told us that he used to work at a now defunct restaurant in SS and it was almost completely dependent on Villagers for customers, where Brownwood has a mix of people that from both inside and outside of TV which helps during the "slow" season.

When we've showed up to SS to dine at 9pm it's pretty much shut down and the restaurants are nearly empty.

I think the long strip of chain restaurants near SS doesn't help that situation either.

[Marathon Man]

Originally Posted by FloridaGuy66

It's not as simple as that. Spanish Springs caters to an older demographic and doesn't draw the non-Villages locals like LSL and Brownwood do. We were out for dinner last night at Brownwood in fact at 9pm since we like to eat late. We had to go on a waiting list to go into one of the restaurants that we wanted to dine at, and it would've been the same for most restaurants in the square. Our waiter told us that he used to work at a now defunct restaurant in SS and it was almost completely dependent on Villagers for customers, where Brownwood has a mix of people that from both inside and outside of TV which helps during the "slow" season.

When we've showed up to SS to dine at 9pm it's pretty much shut down and the restaurants are nearly empty.

I think the long strip of chain restaurants near SS doesn't help that situation either.

That is a big loss for the businesses, if true. I guess that would explain the many closures. If locals are going elsewhere, there must be a reason.

[Gpsma]

Spanish Springs is for the old, old, old people.it wont change till they are gone.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Gpsma

Spanish Springs is for the old, old, old people.it wont change till they are gone.

So there!

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Marathon Man

That is a big loss for the businesses, if true. I guess that would explain the many closures. If locals are going elsewhere, there must be a reason.

People who live in Stonecrest, Spruce Creek, Water Oaks, Leisure Meadows, Blue Parrot, Recreation Plantation, and similar all enjoy Spanish Springs. None of those are in The Villages, but they're all within 10 minutes of the Square. They come for the free music and dancing, buy drinks, buy dinner, sometimes come early and go shopping. Also Villagers have families from out of town who come to visit, and they enjoy the square as well.

Now that several restaurants are closed though, there are fewer options for people who WANT to enjoy the afternoon/evening at the Square. I imagine the restaurants north of Spanish Springs are profiting from our loss.

[margaretmattson]

Restaurants and businesses close for their own reasons. McGrady's and Sunny Pint, reataurants just a few years old in the newest area, have recently closed. IT HAPPENS EVERYWHERE. I have been here over 20 years, there have been too many closings to count. IN ALL THE SQUARES! Need a little proof? Explain how FMK was/is able to open restaurant after restaurant? Answer? The former occupants left.

Btw: We ate in Spanish Springs three times this month. Each time, we had to wait to be seated because the restaurants were full. Try it yourself. See if your luck is better than ours. I will be surprised if you are seated right away.

Not all businesses that leave the squares do so because of failure. For example: At one time, there was a mexican restaurant (kinda like Chipotles) located where Amerikanos is now. It was independently owned. Within a few years, the owner made enough money to retire quite comfortably. Decided the work was too hard, bought a premiere home, and now, enjoys golfing and relaxing every day.

[Marathon Man]

Originally Posted by margaretmattson

Restaurants and businesses close for their own reasons. McGrady's and Sunny Pint, reataurants just a few years old in the newest area, have recently closed. IT HAPPENS EVERYWHERE. I have been here over 20 years, there have been too many closings to count. IN ALL THE SQUARES! Need a little proof? Explain how FMK was/is able to open restaurant after restaurant? Answer? The former occupants left.

Btw: We ate in Spanish Springs three times this month. Each time, we had to wait to be seated because the restaurants were full. Try it yourself. See if your luck is better than ours. I will be surprised if you are seated right away.

McGradys did not close, it was re-branded and still operating. Sunny pint is not in the new area, it is in Wildwood. It's a tavern.

[margaretmattson]

Originally Posted by Marathon Man

McGradys did not close, it was re-branded and still operating. Sunny pint is not in the new area, it is in Wildwood. It's a tavern.

McGradys changed ownership, therefore it is a new business.

We went to Sunny Pint several times. The tavern depended on Villagers for success. I do not know the reason they closed, but my hunch is they grew tired of the hard work.

Maybe, both former owners walked away with a sweet deal and $$$$ in their pockets. Who knows? Businesses close for their own reason. The reason is not always failure.

I have owned several businesses. Fortunately, each was a success. However, there were times when I got too big for my britches or a business partner wanted something I was not willing to do. I closed some locations to make my life easier. Ask anyone who is self employed. It is hard work. Sometimes, enough is enough, and you walk away with a sweet profit. Move on, and never look back.

[FloridaGuy66]

Originally Posted by margaretmattson

IT HAPPENS EVERYWHERE. I have been here over 20 years, there have been too many closings to count. IN ALL THE SQUARES!

I've been here 5 years and I haven't seen any restaurants shutdown in Brownwood, yet at the same time SS has lost several restaurants. One of the most recent, World of Beer was very empty in SS in the months before it closed down. WOB in Brownwood still has a lineup outside almost every night.

[FloridaGuy66]

Originally Posted by margaretmattson

We went to Sunny Pint several times. The tavern depended on Villagers for success. I do not know the reason they closed, but my hunch is they grew tired of the hard work.

Maybe, both former owners walked away with a sweet deal and $$$$ in their pockets. Who knows? Businesses close for their own reason. The reason is not always failure.

Sunny Pint closed down because the owners expanded to an Ocala location and then proceeded to lose large sums of money on that failed restaurant as they even admitted publicly that they didn't correctly understand the Ocala market. The Wildwood location also went downhill during this phase as one of the owners was tied up running the Ocala location, and the staff was spread thin over the two locations.

Even though the food was quite good, the owners also seemed to run the restaurant very inconsistently. The hours were quite sporadic and it felt like they ran it more as a hobby with the the restaurant closing at 8pm even on Friday and Saturday. Their concept of not employing waitstaff was also something that most people were not big fans of. Instead of having bartenders waiting for people to come to them, waitstaff would've made things a much better experience and likely more profitable as well.

[margaretmattson]

Originally Posted by FloridaGuy66

I've been here 5 years and I haven't seen any restaurants shutdown in Brownwood, yet at the same time SS has lost several restaurants. One of the most recent, World of Beer was very empty in SS in the months before it closed down. WOB in Brownwood still has a lineup outside almost every night.

It is difficult to compare the two squares. I believe World of Beer was at the SS location for nearly 20 yrs. People tire of the same ol' same ol' and go elsewhere. There are many, many restaurants located within miles in that area. Have you heard the saying, when people have much to choose from, they choose nothing? This applies to Spanish Springs residents. They have an abundance to choose from, yet they purchase so little.

Brownwood is busy every night because there is nothing else for the nearby residents. Once MIddleton and Eastport open completely, that dynamic will change. Residents will enjoy the new offerings and forget the old. It happens!

There is no reason to fret. SS will attract new business as they have since opening. Brownwood will slow down once Eastport is open. Some businesses will go and be replaced. Change is good.

[michgary]

I will live happily in the middle until i die ,, i'll let you know when,,