[msilagy]

How does that poster know it wasn't making money? I guess he was the accountant. You think?

[thevillages2013]

Originally Posted by thevillages2013

Oh my god you are telling me that smooth talking lady was a pupuprostitue ? I thought she was really digging me

Let’s open back up with a new name . Instead of Studio 54 let’s go with a more fitting name (pregnant pause) STUDIO 55+

[jedalton]

It was absolutely the best. Really miss it. I agree, the biggest mistake the villages has made.

[barbnick]

Originally Posted by rustyp

Not picking on you Stu. I have been here since 2005 and logged countless hours at KB's. Tony D (RIP) and I were on first name basis. No way did they fold because they couldn't make a profit. If that is so how can the other restaurants around the square survive when they have to pay rent and the developer didn't? No proof has ever been offered up in these countless conversations about this other than hearsay. From one who has some firsthand experience may I possibly suggest there was possibly a drug and prostitute problem that wasn't worth dealing with if one's entire livelihood depended on Katie Belle's.. Be observant to what may appear to be a sheltered bubble.

So… Where did all the Prostitutes and drugs go?? Don’t believe it

[thevillages2013]

Originally Posted by barbnick

So… Where did all the Prostitutes and drugs go?? Don’t believe it

Fenney

[BlueStarAirlines]

I'm too new to have gone to KB, but no one can miss the "romanization" of the place.

I think this falls in the same bucket as the "old" days of flying where everyone dressed up and was fed the most amazing meal on the plane. We tend to gloss over all the problems and just focus on (and over time enhance) the positives.

More than likely this place was hemorrhaging money. Positive cash flow helps overlook a multitude of sins. If KB was the cash cow some make it out to be, there is logically no reason to just close it.

[egualf]

I have missed the original Katie Belle's since it's demise. Resident's miss a country and western dance bar with a great wooden floor that welcomed one and all all hours of the day to enjoy camaraderie that was as special as the TV show, Cheers.If there is an entrepreneur out there willing to open the concept off property, I think they would have a winner.

Originally Posted by dadspet

The newer villagers probably haven't heard of Katie Belle's which was a Villager only unique 2 story country dance hall with 2 restaurants located in Spanish Springs. For many it was the place to go and bring out of town guests. Down stairs there was a large dance floor with a raised stage and casual dining around the floor to watch the dancers. Upstairs was a fine dinning restaurant “Cattle Barren” overlooking the dance floor. There was a live band everyday. Katie Belles was unique, everyone we knew loved it and I'm sure it had a lot to do with many of us buying our first home here; but for some reason The Villages closed it. In our opinion, and everyone else we talk to, it was and remains The Villages biggest mistake. I guess I should also say the Villages built an outstanding community and I don't think they make many mistakes. As The Villages grew, many hoped they would build a new Katie Belle's and it seemed like a wonderful location was Brownwood across the street from Blue Fin. Of course we know that isn't going to happen since we will be graced with some other restaurant serving health food I think. The excitement is really building on this!!!!

But, besides bringing back a sore subject for many, it turns out The Villages announced in today's (11/23/21) paper they are planning to put apartments in the Van Patten building were Katie Belle's was located.

Just wondering what others think about the old Katie Belle's and The Villages building a new one – Someplace? Who knows, maybe someone who counts will read this and listen. I think the advertisement value of Katie Belle's far exceeded the restaurant profit.

[DAVES]

Originally Posted by dadspet

The newer villagers probably haven't heard of Katie Belle's which was a Villager only unique 2 story country dance hall with 2 restaurants located in Spanish Springs. For many it was the place to go and bring out of town guests. Down stairs there was a large dance floor with a raised stage and casual dining around the floor to watch the dancers. Upstairs was a fine dinning restaurant “Cattle Barren” overlooking the dance floor. There was a live band everyday. Katie Belles was unique, everyone we knew loved it and I'm sure it had a lot to do with many of us buying our first home here; but for some reason The Villages closed it. In our opinion, and everyone else we talk to, it was and remains The Villages biggest mistake. I guess I should also say the Villages built an outstanding community and I don't think they make many mistakes. As The Villages grew, many hoped they would build a new Katie Belle's and it seemed like a wonderful location was Brownwood across the street from Blue Fin. Of course we know that isn't going to happen since we will be graced with some other restaurant serving health food I think. The excitement is really building on this!!!!

But, besides bringing back a sore subject for many, it turns out The Villages announced in today's (11/23/21) paper they are planning to put apartments in the Van Patten building were Katie Belle's was located.

Just wondering what others think about the old Katie Belle's and The Villages building a new one – Someplace? Who knows, maybe someone who counts will read this and listen. I think the advertisement value of Katie Belle's far exceeded the restaurant profit.

If, I understand it, the builder builds, they work with businesses IF, it makes sense for both. There has to be a business plan with money. I do not know what the agreement was with Katie Belle's. It was a huge custom built property. I seem to recall the first time we did a Villages Visit, you got a diner at Cattleman's Ranch, it was free or discounted and you got a free movie these were all negotiated deals. You can entice a business you cannot force a business.

Someone who counts? Col Saunders was 80 something when he started. You can hire someone who can count.

[Queenie504]

Keep your good memories. I went there once about a year before they closed and it was horrible. The food and entertainment were quite bad. The time for that type of venue is long gone. Sorry.

[DAVES]

Originally Posted by msilagy

How does that poster know it wasn't making money? I guess he was the accountant. You think?

IT DOES NOT MATTER. You cannot force someone to be in business. Hours to run a place like Kattie Belles does not leave time to play golf etc. Oh wow you have your own business. You wake up one day and discover you are getting older and your business owns you.

[Cliff Fr]

The developer is in the building business not the restaurant business.

[paulajr]

Originally Posted by npwalters

That was not what I saw or experienced in the several times I was there.

Funny..that’s what we saw EVERY time we were there when it was on the first floor. The food was much better when it moved upstairs.

[jbrown132]

Originally Posted by dadspet

The newer villagers probably haven't heard of Katie Belle's which was a Villager only unique 2 story country dance hall with 2 restaurants located in Spanish Springs. For many it was the place to go and bring out of town guests. Down stairs there was a large dance floor with a raised stage and casual dining around the floor to watch the dancers. Upstairs was a fine dinning restaurant “Cattle Barren” overlooking the dance floor. There was a live band everyday. Katie Belles was unique, everyone we knew loved it and I'm sure it had a lot to do with many of us buying our first home here; but for some reason The Villages closed it. In our opinion, and everyone else we talk to, it was and remains The Villages biggest mistake. I guess I should also say the Villages built an outstanding community and I don't think they make many mistakes. As The Villages grew, many hoped they would build a new Katie Belle's and it seemed like a wonderful location was Brownwood across the street from Blue Fin. Of course we know that isn't going to happen since we will be graced with some other restaurant serving health food I think. The excitement is really building on this!!!!

But, besides bringing back a sore subject for many, it turns out The Villages announced in today's (11/23/21) paper they are planning to put apartments in the Van Patten building were Katie Belle's was located.

Just wondering what others think about the old Katie Belle's and The Villages building a new one – Someplace? Who knows, maybe someone who counts will read this and listen. I think the advertisement value of Katie Belle's far exceeded the restaurant profit.

Not going to happen. That ended when the developers decided there was more profit it apartments and real estate than in the restaurant business. For those of you who have been here a while you probably remember the nice deli that use to be in the sales center in Sumter Landing which is now Panera’s. It was a great little place to have lunch. I understand the developers motivation but what they lost sight of was keeping those things that made The Villages truly unique and those things will never return.

[jbrown132]

Originally Posted by JSR22

Katie Belle's downstairs was closed because it was not making a profit. The Cattle Baron was an okay restaurant not fine dining. The upstairs Katie Belle's restaurant was much better then the Cattle Baron and had good entertainment. Not enough people wanted to pay for shows and dinner.
The Harvest opening across from Blue Fin is not a health food restaurant. It will be a very good restaurant along the the lines of Blue Fin and Chop House.
When Katie Belle's was closed all furnishings were removed. There will be apts in the upstairs.
I can not fathom why rhey would reopen a business that is not profitable.

I have a hard time believing those businesses were not profitable. I would go there on average 3-4 times a month and they were always packed. Most of the shows were always sold out. So it was not the lack of business but maybe poor management or the developers just figured there was more money and less work in apartments than in the restaurant business.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by rustyp

How can one not make a profit when people stand in line waiting to get in. Again burden is on you to show they didn't make a profit. Just produce one piece of evidence like yearly Morse meeting or (chuckle) The Villages Sun other than TV posters of which 90% spouting out this hearsay didn't live here and never stepped foot in KB's. Added footnote - let me be clear - I am talking about the original KB's. Not that poor excuse we were fed when it went upstairs. Yea that's how successful the developers wanted it to be. They put a night club on the second floor of a senior citizen's community.

Why do we have a burden to show they didnt make a profit? Remember the developer can either make this a loss leader or go in another direction and they choose what is in their best interest.

We were not here when it was opened so no idea if it was good or bad. The comment that villagers bought one drink and nursed it for hours so they lost money is silly. All a business has to do is put in a minimum purchase and that problem is solved very quickly.