[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by Dr Winston O Boogie jr

I agree. Demolish it and build a real town square.

Wonder why this did not become the fourth town square?

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by thelegges

No, why would they read or participate in a bash session. They have tenets, as long as they pay rent, there are no problems. Developer successfully has run this place along time.
It takes years for venues from start to finish. Supply chain has changed their process, and May for years to come,

I truly believe Jennifer was very happy and excited how Sawgrass came together. The area fits very well for clean up of spilled food and drink.

The team picked out the interior decor, furniture, during their vmail was very happy as it was coming together. As far as the high top, they are in every bar, and nobody seems to mind using those. I agree the chairs would work better in a ice cream shop, but once the venue opens up outside how Many will mill around inside.

Cost is not in my top 5 issues if the food is good. But we do frequent Disney springs, Tampa and Orlando for restaurants and none of them are ever cheap

If I owned the place would want to have feedback from customers both good and bad.

[rogerrice60]

Originally Posted by fdpaq0580

That sounds great, however, I was thinking demolish it and start over. Think: better facilities, better food, reasonable pricing, and pay options that serve patrons needs or desires.
I don't expect it will improve with time. If enough people tolerate the prices and practices, even though they don't like it, then the business has no motivation to change.

Totally agree with your analysis!
We are very disappointed with this "downsized " Square!!
Prices are high & very little to do there!

[rogerrice60]

Totally agree with your analysis!
We are very disappointed with this "downsized " Square!
Prices are high & very little to do there!

[rogerrice60]

Originally Posted by LAFwUs

>>If you owned it and could make any changes, what would you do?<<

wouldn't this be like trying to pour the milk back in the glass after its spilled on the floor?

The reality of Sawgrass is a big let down for nearly everyone that has gone.
Myself, family, friends & several neighbors included.
A business cannot get that lost initial momentum (customers / rep) back, let alone several combined businesses (many of which were not/could not even open - at the initial opening) in what is a very poorly executed venue, weird biz formats & super edgy practices in a generally 55yr and older community = bad mix!

Starting over may not be a bad thing,! Ditch who ever thought the current platform had any chance of success and fall back to what has clearly worked in other villages/areas.
That might be a good start, but it would require some people acknowledging that there is a problem in the first place, and secondly, its not going to fix itself with time.

Excellent reply

[Villages Kahuna]

I’ve heard the following complaints which have lead to my decision to never visit there. Fix the following and maybe I’ll reconsider.

— Inside the noise is painfully loud.
—Prices are outrageously high

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

Wonder why this did not become the fourth town square?

Originally Posted by rogerrice60

Totally agree with your analysis!
We are very disappointed with this "downsized " Square!!
Prices are high & very little to do there!

Announced September 2021

The Villages has christened its newest town center with a nod to the Morse family’s Michigan roots.

The new town center will be known as Eastport and will include The Villages’ well-known mix of shopping, dining and entertainment. Eastport will be located north of Central Parkway (County Road 470) and east of Marsh Bend Trail.

[Laker14]

Originally Posted by Villages Kahuna

I’ve heard the following complaints which have lead to my decision to never visit there. Fix the following and maybe I’ll reconsider.

— Inside the noise is painfully loud.
—Prices are outrageously high

I'll check it out at some point after I return in October. Maybe my expectations will be so low I'll be pleasantly surprised.
I have to see it for myself, even if only briefly. It sounds like a magnificent assemblage of things I don't care for; crowds, noise, uncomfortable seating, along with crummy food at high prices.
What's not to love?

[Mrs.Guy]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

Announced September 2021

The Villages has christened its newest town center with a nod to the Morse family’s Michigan roots.

The new town center will be known as Eastport and will include The Villages’ well-known mix of shopping, dining and entertainment. Eastport will be located north of Central Parkway (County Road 470) and east of Marsh Bend Trail.

There you go..... putting facts in your replies. What's next, reading the entire thread before posting?

[Kelevision]

Originally Posted by Dr Winston O Boogie jr

I agree. Demolish it and build a real town square.

This was never meant to be a town square. It was meant to be an alternate to a Country Club.

[Worldseries27]

Originally Posted by bogie shooter

announced september 2021

the villages has christened its newest town center with a nod to the morse family’s michigan roots.

The new town center will be known as eastport and will include the villages’ well-known mix of shopping, dining and entertainment. Eastport will be located north of central parkway (county road 470) and east of marsh bend trail.

if i remember right, eastport is about 2 circles from the new bexley trail/ sawgrass grove area which may have a full town square. If this is accurate then sg is merely a villages version of a 7/11

[Tom359]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

Perhaps they should have run this entire concept with someone with real restaurant experience. Sounds like the owners are a bunch of amateurs

This just makes no sense. If you watch the progress videos, most of the vendors have successful restaurants in Orlando and are trying to make them work here in the villages. You can disagree with the pricing/quality, but not the experience of the vendors.

[kkingston57]

Went there one time. Looked like it was busy. This was around 2:00 on a weekday. 1st impression was that it looked like a mall's food court with an adjacent golf shop. Never seen a set up like this before. Outdoor music had not started yet. To answer posters ? I do feel that there is not anyway that this is going to be a go for the businesses inside this "food court". When was the last time anybody went out and said lets hang out the "food court". No major tenant and one regular service restaurant there.

[BigSteph]

I just think a lot of Villagers are middle-class folks looking for a reasonable meal at a reasonable price.

I would turn the Market-side of Saw Grass into an S&K/Morrison Cafeteria and watch the Villagers on a fixed income stack up at 3pm for early dinner and lines continue until early evening.

I suspect for every person who frequents Saw Grass, there is another 5 who could be captured with more moderate prices. I suspect a vegetable plate with a piece of garlic bread, and a nice berry cobbler would sell out every night for most retirement locations. Here though, we all have to be younger than we are, and wealthier than we are -- to be otherwise is to be in the uncool kids club.

[Worldseries27]

Originally Posted by bigsteph

i just think a lot of villagers are middle-class folks looking for a reasonable meal at a reasonable price.

I would turn the market-side of saw grass into an s&k/morrison cafeteria and watch the villagers on a fixed income stack up at 3pm for early dinner and lines continue until early evening.

I suspect for every person who frequents saw grass, there is another 5 who could be captured with more moderate prices. I suspect a vegetable plate with a piece of garlic bread, and a nice berry cobbler would sell out every night for most retirement locations. Here though, we all have to be younger than we are, and wealthier than we are -- to be otherwise is to be in the uncool kids club.

agree with your op.
If they want to salvage sg rep they need for village management and vendors to rework their leases so that all parties, mgmt,vendors and us can meet at an agreeable pricing matrix to make this enterprise a lot more appealing and successful for all concerned