[l2ridehd]

Traders Joe's is OK and would probably go there, but if I could chose a couple stores I would like to see. Wegmans and Costco would be my choice. Wegmans would put Publix and Sweet Bay out of business.

[applesoffh]

Originally Posted by Bonny

I can't imagine any big box store such as Macys coming anywhere near Brownwood. I don't ever see that happening. These rumors have been going on for years.
The malls in Leesburg and Ocala are always struggling and they are on major roads.
The Villages could not support these stores. If they ever came this way it would be on a major road like 441.

Agree!

[Gongy]

I can tell you what Trader Joes is all about. I have shopped there for years and that is the one store that I miss and would love to have here in The Villages.
If you want to shop in a store that only carries healthy items, then Trader Joes is for you. When I left NY and moved to Richmond VA, there were no Trader Joes in VA. Myself and many others wrote Trader Joes and after a few years they finally opened one up. Once they opened, I went there and asked if someone from the store would come to my 55 and up development and give a presentation on what they have to offer. They agreed and told all that attended what they are all about. Its not just their wine (2 buck chuck), which by the way is called Charles Shaw and its not $2 in VA, its $3.75. Their meats, fruits and vegetables are pesticide free, antibiotic free, and everything is organic, without paying the Whole Foods price. One thing that stuck with me from their presentation is that any product you buy from them, look at the ingredients label and there will never be a word you cannot pronounce or understand. If you ask them to carry an item, they look it up and check it out and if there are ingredients in it that are not healthy they will tell you no. One example of many is, bread crumbs. Check out your label on the bread crumbs you have in your pantry, Progresso Italian Bread Crumbs has close to 75 ingredients, seriously its bread crumbs. Trader Joes bread crumbs has 5 ingredients and add 5 spices and you have a total of 10 ingredients.
This store is not for all, not everyone really cares if what they are eating is good for them or not, you will never find food that is fried in Trader Joes.
When you look around The Villages, what you see are many people living a very healthy lifestyle, this is why I think Trader Joes is a perfect fit for us. One last thing is that you cannot beat their prices!

Originally Posted by graciegirl

I have never been in a Trader Joe's and am curious to see how it could be better than Publix which I love. I am a person who really enjoys food shopping and cooking.

When I ask people what they love about Trader Joes I am stuck with an image like the blind man describing the elephant.

People talk about ethnic food and already prepared food cheaper than Fresh Market, not very big place, unusual items, two dollar wine, and not very big store ...most repeat that twice, it isn't very big and has hard to find stuff. I am totally curious but am looking forward to the experience since I have not yet heard any bad comments.

I am from Cincinnati, birthplace of Barney Kroger. You gotta work hard to beat a Kroger superstore, but I have grown to love Publix.

[Mack184]

Originally Posted by justjim

Mack: I know many people in Sumter County are grateful for TV because they have more opportunity for employment. TV certainly changed Sumter County almost like Disney changed Orange County. Some people don't like change....

Tell you what..I learned this early on. They might smile in your face and say thank-you, much like the farmers near the Hamptons in NY smile at the people out there, but behind your backs they DO NOT like us.

Many blame TVers for higher taxes, more congestion and so on and so forth. I also learned that when I go out seeking something outside of "the bubble" that if I don't wear the standard local "uniform" of white nikes, white socks, shorts and a snappy T or polo I get treated MUCH differently. If I put on my jeans, my Wolverine loggers and an old T-shirt and drive my pick-up and they think I'm a local, the treatment is very different. And in fact, I was told at two different places where they didn't think I was "one of them damn Villagers" that they automatically raised the prices if they thought that's where you came from.

Some may think that TV is good for them. Many, many, many do not. I was also told by one of the nearby radio station managers that they NEVER mention The Villages on air unless it's completely unavoidable, because their audience hates them.

[duffysmom]

If the rumor is true then I'm happy to live close to 466 and no 466A. Shopping malls are ugly; Morse Blvd and Buerna Vista would be the thru roads used by many shoppers and that alone is frightening. I'd rather see cows and horses on the land.

[DougB]

Originally Posted by duffysmom

If the rumor is true then I'm happy to live close to 466 and no 466A. Shopping malls are ugly; Morse Blvd and Buerna Vista would be the thru roads used by many shoppers and that alone is frightening. I'd rather see cows and horses on the land.

Amen

[rubicon]

Originally Posted by Gongy

I can tell you what Trader Joes is all about. I have shopped there for years and that is the one store that I miss and would love to have here in The Villages.
If you want to shop in a store that only carries healthy items, then Trader Joes is for you. When I left NY and moved to Richmond VA, there were no Trader Joes in VA. Myself and many others wrote Trader Joes and after a few years they finally opened one up. Once they opened, I went there and asked if someone from the store would come to my 55 and up development and give a presentation on what they have to offer. They agreed and told all that attended what they are all about. Its not just their wine (2 buck chuck), which by the way is called Charles Shaw and its not $2 in VA, its $3.75. Their meats, fruits and vegetables are pesticide free, antibiotic free, and everything is organic, without paying the Whole Foods price. One thing that stuck with me from their presentation is that any product you buy from them, look at the ingredients label and there will never be a word you cannot pronounce or understand. If you ask them to carry an item, they look it up and check it out and if there are ingredients in it that are not healthy they will tell you no. One example of many is, bread crumbs. Check out your label on the bread crumbs you have in your pantry, Progresso Italian Bread Crumbs has close to 75 ingredients, seriously its bread crumbs. Trader Joes bread crumbs has 5 ingredients and add 5 spices and you have a total of 10 ingredients.
This store is not for all, not everyone really cares if what they are eating is good for them or not, you will never find food that is fried in Trader Joes.
When you look around The Villages, what you see are many people living a very healthy lifestyle, this is why I think Trader Joes is a perfect fit for us. One last thing is that you cannot beat their prices!

gongy: I respect everyhing you have said;albeit I have never been in a Trader Joe's. However Trader Joe's did have a salmonella breakout a few years back....I think it was their peanut butter.....just saying

[patfla06]

Originally Posted by Phanatic Luvr

Not necessarily true. Where I moved from, Wesley Chapel, Florida, an hour south, on the small rural corner of Bruce B. Downs Blvd and SR56 opened a JC Penneys story back in about 2007. It took about 3 more years to complete the project but up strung the Wiregrass Mall with Macy's and Dillards as the 3 anchor stores and a good deal of the most popular other stores like Pottery Barn, Coldwater Creek, J.Jill, etc... The intersection went from 2 lanes in all directions to now 6 and even 8 lanes in all directions. It caused growing pains in that area with traffic confusion but it is all complete now and traffic flows freely.

Hi former neighbor! I currently live in Tampa Palms and hoping to sell our house soon.
Within 10 miles of being home the traffic (and crazy drivers) begin.

We moved here in 1997 and there were COWS where Lowes is now.
The "boom" feels like NY/NJ followed us.

I don't think mall like stores anywhere in T.V. would be good.

[Russ_Boston]

Originally Posted by Gongy

One example of many is, bread crumbs. Check out your label on the bread crumbs you have in your pantry, Progresso Italian Bread Crumbs has close to 75 ingredients, seriously its bread crumbs.

Yes Progresso is loaded with ingredients (just looked it up on-line) but you need not have a TJ's handy to find low ingredient bread crumbs. I have a box of 4C brand from Publix right in front of me with 5 basic ingredients and 5 spices (since it is a seasoned, not plain, box of breadcrumbs).

[Scouty]

If you stopped going to every store that had an outbreak of something or another, there wouldn't be any stores left to shop at.....

[patfla06]

Since I currently live in Tampa (until I sell) and have lived here 16 years, I have no problem once or twice a year coming back here to shop.
But I don't want to live next to shopping.

At our age, how much more STUFF do we need?

[NotGolfer]

Originally Posted by Gongy

I can tell you what Trader Joes is all about. I have shopped there for years and that is the one store that I miss and would love to have here in The Villages.
If you want to shop in a store that only carries healthy items, then Trader Joes is for you. When I left NY and moved to Richmond VA, there were no Trader Joes in VA. Myself and many others wrote Trader Joes and after a few years they finally opened one up. Once they opened, I went there and asked if someone from the store would come to my 55 and up development and give a presentation on what they have to offer. They agreed and told all that attended what they are all about. Its not just their wine (2 buck chuck), which by the way is called Charles Shaw and its not $2 in VA, its $3.75. Their meats, fruits and vegetables are pesticide free, antibiotic free, and everything is organic, without paying the Whole Foods price. One thing that stuck with me from their presentation is that any product you buy from them, look at the ingredients label and there will never be a word you cannot pronounce or understand. If you ask them to carry an item, they look it up and check it out and if there are ingredients in it that are not healthy they will tell you no. One example of many is, bread crumbs. Check out your label on the bread crumbs you have in your pantry, Progresso Italian Bread Crumbs has close to 75 ingredients, seriously its bread crumbs. Trader Joes bread crumbs has 5 ingredients and add 5 spices and you have a total of 10 ingredients.
This store is not for all, not everyone really cares if what they are eating is good for them or not, you will never find food that is fried in Trader Joes.
When you look around The Villages, what you see are many people living a very healthy lifestyle, this is why I think Trader Joes is a perfect fit for us. One last thing is that you cannot beat their prices!

I happen to be one of those individuals with food sensitivities. I find it difficult to find items that I need here in T.V. so have to drive (think gas prices) to Orlando or, one in a while, to Ocala to find the items I need. I don't "do" processed foods, but the organic range fed items without GMO's in them. If T.J.'s came to T.V. I'd be thrilled as they have a range of items with great prices that I would buy. Whole Foods is way too expensive in my humble opinion as are other health-food stores!!! I would expect "IF" this isn't a rumor that this store would always be busy!!!!

[mrsanborn]

Originally Posted by Mack184

Tell you what..I learned this early on. They might smile in your face and say thank-you, much like the farmers near the Hamptons in NY smile at the people out there, but behind your backs they DO NOT like us.

Many blame TVers for higher taxes, more congestion and so on and so forth. I also learned that when I go out seeking something outside of "the bubble" that if I don't wear the standard local "uniform" of white nikes, white socks, shorts and a snappy T or polo I get treated MUCH differently. If I put on my jeans, my Wolverine loggers and an old T-shirt and drive my pick-up and they think I'm a local, the treatment is very different. And in fact, I was told at two different places where they didn't think I was "one of them damn Villagers" that they automatically raised the prices if they thought that's where you came from.

Some may think that TV is good for them. Many, many, many do not. I was also told by one of the nearby radio station managers that they NEVER mention The Villages on air unless it's completely unavoidable, because their audience hates them.

What's on your snappy T that the non-bubblers would treat you so MUCH differently?

[JP]

Ok, I'll disclose where I heard this rumor from. I was talking to the shuttle driver that was driving us in the villages van to the airport and they had heard this "rumor" straight from one of the architects mouths that was designing the mall. Only time will tell.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by mrsanborn

What's on your snappy T that the non-bubblers would treat you so MUCH differently?

Good question .... Mack, tell us what's on your snappy T?