[Hplaw]

Originally Posted by MrChip72

SS is the most inferior setup of all of the squares as far as watching the live entertainment. Limited seating and sightlines, and the acoustics are all over the place. Not a very good restaurant selection, we went to Bella Vita and it was BAD, worst restaurant in TV hands down for service and food. We went to Costa Verde and it was average but double the price of the non-Villages places with similar quality offerings. We go to Brownwood all the time and Sawgrass on occasion, same with LSL if it's a band we want to see. It's possible/likely that we will not visit SS ever again other than going to The Sharon for shows.

[asianthree]

So in SS yesterday after dentist. We stopped at Kilwins, then a first time at Blondies. Got a pastry at Panera. Hope for a great restaurant in SS is always on everyone’s list, instead of just mediocre at best. Of course that a hope for any area of TV.

In its heyday SS drew ton of $$, not just High season. No retail can survive on Jan/Feb/Mar business. At least the developers haven’t left SS, it’s to their benefit that it survives, and hopefully with the Reno’s and apartments, there will reasons for wanting to stop in SS.

As everyone says the “ reason you live north” is because of all of the retail and the hospital and the doctors offices. Just that statement alone should keep Spanish springs fairly busy, as long as in and out of the bubble clientele continue to keep it alive.
But SS really needs multiple great brick and mortar to attract that business, year round.

[sowtime444]

When I called The Villages to inquire about the apartments for rent, I asked if they are making any other rentals anytime soon. They said the Rialto building is going to become apartments.

I then talked to a realtor friend of mine, who has friends that work for The Villages. They told him that the Rialto apartments will have a rooftop pool!

He also said that the entire square is getting a redesign to be more like Brownwood. The band will move to the corner where the water feature is in front of the Rialto. And the audience will be in the opposite corner with Brownwood style seating.

[Sandy and Ed]

Originally Posted by BlueStarAirlines

This is us and most of the folks we know. We have lived here almost two years and have been to SS once. LSL maybe 10 times, with Brownwood getting most of our time and money. Eastport will be a frequent destination once it opens. There just isn't anything to draw folks up that far....even the shopping isn't a draw.

That depends on where you live. Those that live betwixt the 466’s give both LSL and Brownwood and SS action. SS especially being on the way north to BJ, Sam’s, etc. Besides home of Chico’s. 466 itself has its own draw. Don’t sell the northern areas of TV short. Besides, the infrastructure has withstood the test of time. Not a wasteland by any means.

[Joe C.]

There's a TON of restaurants outside of SS within a few minutes car driving or others accessible by golf cart. Restaurants within TV are somewhat more expensive. Possibly high overhead costs. Within each of the town squares, there are a few places to eat. But outside of them, I think SS has the most eateries.

As far as the actual town squares go, SS is crowded most nights, and actually DOES have a farmer's market on Saturdays. SS the oldest town square, so it is in need of an update. Villagers don't need to travel to other squares unless they want to do so to get entertainment, groceries, etc. There's enough around each area for them to enjoy.

[Lottoguy]

With the recent addition of Hobby Lobby and now Costco the north continues to look very inviting.

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by Joe C.

There's a TON of restaurants outside of SS within a few minutes car driving or others accessible by golf cart.
Villagers don't need to travel to other squares unless they want to do so to get entertainment, groceries, etc. There's enough around each area for them to enjoy.

Problem is many do go outside of SS for restaurants, so a good reason for developers to Reno and bring in new to attract people into SS.

As long as we have been in the villages, residents have always traveled to different town squares either for restaurants, meeting friends or following their favorite band.

A square cannot just survive with those who surround it. Spanish Springs needs new life to bring in clientele that spends money at the brick and mortar establishments.. thankfully developers see that as well. For their benefit and residents from all of the bubble

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by Lottoguy

With the recent addition of Hobby Lobby and now Costco the north continues to look very inviting.

I would consider between the 6’s as mid TV, where Costco will draw in and out of TV.

North is above the 6’s for us, but just an opinion.

[BostonRich]

SS does have the unique advantage that it is on busy 441 and does draw from outside of the Villages which can bring in a lot of business.

I haven't heard anything about a major redesign but I hope they learnt something from Sawgrass Grove and orient things so that the sun sets behind the audience and not in their eyes. The stage can have some type of shade protector for the bands.

[sallyg]

Love Spanish Springs town square because it is not a large as LSL or Brownwood. Are there any real stats on shop turnover or shopping traffic? I hope it continues to prosper - whether some shops and restaurants may change it is a nice alternative. Not sure what this posting was trying to do. Steer people away? Why?

[BostonRich]

Unfortunately it's kind of a ghost town with three restaurants suddenly vacant.

Although the new restaurants may be good, they are on the expensive side and we are losing the ability to go to the square more frequently for a quick inexpensive bite.

[Papa_lecki]

Originally Posted by sowtime444

When I called The Villages to inquire about the apartments for rent, I asked if they are making any other rentals anytime soon. They said the Rialto building is going to become apartments.

I then talked to a realtor friend of mine, who has friends that work for The Villages. They told him that the Rialto apartments will have a rooftop pool!

He also said that the entire square is getting a redesign to be more like Brownwood. The band will move to the corner where the water feature is in front of the Rialto. And the audience will be in the opposite corner with Brownwood style seating.

I am not surprised, this is the type of facelift I was hoping for.

[Jayhawk]

Originally Posted by bostonrich

although the new restaurants may be good, they are on the expensive side and we are losing the ability to go to the square more frequently for a quick inexpensive bite.

[wolfie]

What you should be asking is price of house Is it close to stores and shops? Is it crowded ? is there a lot of noise, close to hospitals location, location, location, is very important. views? some people would like to look at the golf course or lake or the forest. We looked at 115 houses four months, the Lord's been good to us so money wasn't quite a problem, but we wanted the best location for our money and I refused to pay for a bond. We found what we were looking for in an older area, with a view of a lake, Golf Course , cul-de-sac much cheaper than a new location. yes we did put a investment in the house. Well, let's face it whether it's a new house or old house you're gonna invest money into it. We actually customize our house to the way we wanted. I would say 100,000 so I paid exactly $500,000 total for what I would paid $1 million plus you cannot get to three views in the villages anywhere, get compliments every time people come to our house, they cannot believe it, We love the old neighborhood. our Palms are 20 years old besides compliments, they always looking to buy the trees. You should take that in consideration, the older houses are also further apart from each other, taxes are low. That's what you should be looking at.

[Villagesgal]

I like that SS is evolving with new businesses and restaurants. I live north of 466 and go to SS and LSL often. Brownwood is too far and nothing special and I won't go to the others farther south either. Too far to drive. I think most set a comfortable distance and won't go beyond that. The Villages will make sure every area has something for their people.