I live on the Historic side and I'm quite happy here with all the trees. We are close to much shopping and medical offices. I can get anywhere by golf cart. I don't understand the developer. He is planning to redo Paradise rec center, built Blondies, revamped a building next to Ay Jalisco (which still is empty). I still would rather live here and rarely travel to LSL let alone Brownwood or further.

We don't go to SS very often unless there is an event there like a festival. I do wonder if the demographics in that area will change as sorry to say residents pass on and younger people buy these homes and renovate? They often have no bonds and bigger yards. Or are newcomers to the villages who are recently retired only attracted to the new sections? It's a shame the northern areas are so unique looking

Incoming Recession
 

Economic news and Fed adjustments along with global markets indicate an incoming recession. Perhaps this and the economic aging demographic of the area are agitating the area? The weakening job numbers along with companies like Amazon, Starbucks, Proctor and Gamble etc pulling back on investment could all be prognostic of the future of SS.

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Where to live
 

I can tell you that I’ve talked to several who live in the SS area and “historical side” who wouldn’t live anywhere else in The Villages. Some are relative newbees too. As everybody knows, the new section is “pushed” by the Developer but their sales associates will show you resales they have if you ask or tell them up front you want to look at resales too.

Actually, this will HELP the villages. Someone in the late 50s, gets a package to leave work, decides to move to FLA 3 years early - with cash from the sale of their house.

This describes me.

Except I didn’t get a package, I got a very attractive remote job. But, all else applies.

That is exactly what happened to me, but I did not chose the Spanish Springs area.

Commercial properties are not only closing in Spanish Springs. Just recently, Sonny's BBQ left Lake Sumter. The theatre in Brownwood closed and
several more. Plans for the new hospital has been scratched. It also appears business owners are not knocking the doors down in Middleton. Commercial sales there has been slow. A recently built coffee shop and other buildings are sitting empty with no interest. Big Box Stores like Costco and Hobby Lobby chose the area near Spanish Springs. It appears a "booming location" is in the eyes of the beholder especially for those with $$$$ to invest.

Booming? I think not.

Do you think that the age demographics are also factored in as to where big box stores choose to build? I know folks in my parent’s age group still enjoy physically patronizing the big box stores on a regular basis, and being in close proximity is very important to them. Having a plethora of retail and shopping options appears not to be such an important factor to younger retirees. In fact, many want to be as far away as possible from the traffic and congestion caused by endless strip malls. It’s not uncommon for me to have several home deliveries daily from Amazon, Costco, Kroeger, UPS, etc.

The retail landscape is changing not just in The Villages, but everywhere.

Shifting
 

I totally agree. The older generation doesn’t shop the same way. They are more hands on. They can’t seem to let go of the tactual experience and few even trust internet commerce.

Commercial real estate isn’t what it used to be as a whole anyway. It’s demise was assured after the COVID tide receded.

Brown theater close at Pandemic, and so far no movie houses are taking on sites due to lack of new releases. In fact at our other homes not in TV 11 theaters with 12-20 screens have closed.

Middleton is a construction zone and no new businesses (11) at last count with leases, can open until it’s safe to open. Citizens bank is on the outskirts of Middleton that’s as far as one can go. Coffee shop is too far in.

My guess is You work for Developers since You stated “Commercial sales are slow. If you don’t have that first hand knowledge then are you assuming.
Your demographic is very off for Costco, it’s in the “6’s”. Nowhere near Spanish Springs. Maybe you are confusing Sam’s club on 441, now that’s kind of in the general area of SS. SS did not renew leases for at least 3 restaurants that are now closed, along with couple empty store fronts when we were there last week.

You have been in TV for awhile, how long before you decided TV is no longer making you happy?

All 3 of those restaurants had terrible food. The only other thing they offered was booze, which you can get at any other number of places in SS.

Coastal Del Mar and Bella Vista have good food, and they’re packed and constantly have a wait.

There’s plenty of demand in SS, but you can’t serve crap food and expect people to still come.

The big reason for the decline of ALL shopping malls is the dominance of Amazon for retail purchases

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