Very dynamic economy in that area. Particularly with thousands of families populating the Middleton area.

Middleton has several new Restaurants and businesses in final stages of staffing and stocking.

Eastport will follow about a year behind.

SS has been dead for a while. Old homes, a lot of traffic, older residents, and the styles of the homes are quite dated. I hate the sssllloooowwww Morse speed north of 466.
The villages are not in a downturn spiral, far from it. Everybody I know that is selling their home south of 44 is asking for $200k more for their house than what they bought it for 3 years ago. The villages sells every new home they build in Eastport and there could be 100’s of people in the lottery for each of the new homes for sale. My friends list out on 5-7 homes due to the large lottery before they won to build in Eastport.
Now if somebody is asking for a $200k-$300k more for their 3 year old house and they have to take an offer $50k less, that’s not a downward spiraling housing market.

Also, at our age, why would you be impacted by higher interest rates, or inflation? I would be think at our age we would be prepared for the his type of thing, or assisted living costs, maybe more medical costs, higher travel costs, and positioned your portfolio so it would be fairly safe in bad times. The market doesn’t always go up and we can have recessions every so many years that can last a few years.

I prefer Spanish Springs. Brownwood and Sawgrass are too far and I prefer less crowds. I love Spanish Springs.

Have the opposite problem as I live 1/2 mile from SS and south of 44 is like driving to another county/city and go to same type of establishments. TV is now about 20 miles end to end,

Been to Sawgrass and it is much smaller than SS and therefore with a smaller crowd it can be more crowded. Need to come to SS on the 3rd Saturday of the month. Great car show with 200+/- cars, i

Mostly agree, 3 restaurants closed down in last 1-2 years and all 3 spaces remain un occupied. Restaurant owners probably do not want to try and open a new biz because too much supply and lessening demand (not a lot new residential property) Gym re opening has created more traffic and developers might need to be more creative in marketing these closed restaurants,

Can't tell how many times I have heard this but has anybody actually stated what the rent is for TV property vs non TV rental rates. Would love to see actual numbers

Margarita Republic was a filthy, disgusting place with a lot of outsider troublemakers. Cop calls were a regular occurrence. Good riddance.

World of Beer filed bankruptcy—the entire company. Yes, some locations remain open, but the bankruptcy wasn't related just to Spanish Springs.

Gators was more a bar than anything else. Plenty of other spots to get a drink.

100% correct on Margarita Republic. We went there 1 time, looked around and left. Dirty and obviously not well run.

Sawgrass is proof that having a "square" share a location/parking with a rec center and other activities is probably a bad idea.

I think Eastport is going to become a nightmare in comparison for that reason.

I saw a video on Ladies of the Lanai. They interviewed a man on the progress of Eastport. He said people are going to be surprised. It is much smaller than anticipated.If you take away the hotel, rec center, sales center, and health/wellness center there is not much more. He also stated parking spaces are very limited. I guess we will have to wait and see!

I could not disagree more. I have been to Sawgrass many times. Always got a place to park.

And I always have trouble getting a parking place. Especially when something is going on in the Rec Center in the evening.

Sadly, you can't just park a bit farther away and walk...

Sawgrass isn’t a square, but an entertainment center. It was a new concept similar to Edna’s for casual gathering, with food options.

Both Sawgrass and Edna’s do well. SS, LSL, and Brownwood are titled as a “Square”, with retail, offices, some medical, restaurants, and entertainment.

Sawgrass only has entertainment, and food offerings, with only one restaurant, and a food court. I wouldn’t call the pro shop a retailer, but convenience for golfers.

So far I have not read Middleton has the title of “Square”, but a shopping, and restaurant destination.

Eastport is also a shopping, restaurant destination, with old world feel of European, market. So far no label as a “square”

I wonder if “square” concept is a thing of the past. Since all three “squares” are actually built in a Square.

First, I think we have to realize, The Villages is not a go to destination for tourists. Nor do I as a resident want it to be. Town centers are designed for residents. By design The Villages is aging from north to south. It will gradually be refreshed. But what worked yesterday has changed. Movies are out; theater changed to Exercise Club.
What would you think might be the future? What would work? I envision apartments, convenience stores, doctor offices, perhaps some local takeout food, some financial services, a bank.

I don't think it is dying, but perhaps evolving,

Test, If you were searching for a location of a new National Restaurant would you pick Spanish Springs or a site on 441/27?

Limited traffic? SS is located on 441. That has lots of traffic. I'm not sure of your point.

EDIT....just re-read your post. I think you meant foot traffic, not vehicular traffic. Got it!