[graciegirl]

I keep reading, year after year, why don't we have this or that restaurant, business, why don't we have more ethnic restaurants, more expensive restaurants, why don't we have this kind of grocery etc. etc.?

I say that for a long time we were growing so fast that the demographers, the business that supply information to expanding chains, and other businesses looking to open, simply were not aware of how big we are or how inviting we are to certain kinds of new business.

There are people who wonder why certain businesses do not do well or survive. Those who long for certain niche businesses or high end restaurants.

I think it is simply an economic issue of supply and demand. There is no conspiracy, no developer who doesn't want such and so, it is simply that the majority of people who live here dictate by how they spend their money, what businesses will succeed or fail.

Law of Supply and Demand: Basic Economics

[fred53]

Usually a study is done by the business that is considering your location. A lot of money is put into this and the reason you don't have more choices is that they don't foresee a big enough profit in the venture. Who can blame them?

[NotGolfer]

Originally Posted by fred53

Usually a study is done by the business that is considering your location. A lot of money is put into this and the reason you don't have more choices is that they don't foresee a big enough profit in the venture. Who can blame them?

Pretty much what I was going to add.

[Rapscallion St Croix]

I demand that someone supply us with a Polish restaurant.

[vintageogauge]

Many establishments have protected area. Example, The Haufbrahaus has a St. Petersburg location and they cannot sell another franchise here. I would guess that would have an affect on what comes here in addition to everything else mentioned or to be mentioned.

[dewilson58]

And my dad said an Economics Degree won't get me any where.

[theorem painter]

I believe that many businesses aren't interested in moving here because of the age demographics. I used to do a lot of product surveys and when my age bracket changed from 59 to 60 companies were no longer interested in my opinions. When I asked why I was told that businesses do not believe that people over 60 spend as much as those under 60. In the rest of the country I might agree with that statement but we all know that The Villages is different than any other place. One only has to look at the long lines at Home Goods, Bed Bath and Beyond and the full restaurants every night to know that we all have a whole lot of disposable income.

[Schaumburger]

Originally Posted by theorem painter

I believe that many businesses aren't interested in moving here because of the age demographics. I used to do a lot of product surveys and when my age bracket changed from 59 to 60 companies were no longer interested in my opinions. When I asked why I was told that businesses do not believe that people over 60 spend as much as those under 60. In the rest of the country I might agree with that statement but we all know that The Villages is different than any other place. One only has to look at the long lines at Home Goods, Bed Bath and Beyond and the full restaurants every night to know that we all have a whole lot of disposable income.

How true! The "average" 60 year old has a higher disposable income than the "average" 25 year old. It seems that after a certain age, some businesses are not interested in marketing to a more mature audience.

[JoelJohnson]

I once read a story about a buggy whip company. They made the best buggy whips ... right up to the day they closed.

So supply and demand works. While there was amply supply of buggy whips, there was no demand.

Also, there is the problem of price. While it's nice to want to buy an American made product, it's not always cost effective.

I always say it's about price/performance. I have to feel I'm getting my money's worth. I think most people do to.

So if a good restaurant comes to the villages, but the prices are too high, people won't pay the price (at least for very long).

[l2ridehd]

There are some businesses that would be extremely successful here but for what ever reason their real estate division has failed to recognize the value opportunity.

A couple examples would be Costco and Trader Joe's. Either one would be very busy even in the summer months. But for reasons I fail to see have not engaged this market.

The Villages is the fastest growing area in Florida. It also has the highest income per resident in Florida. Also the most disposal income. By any measure most retail business's look at, this is the perfect demographic. I do agree that not every business model works well here, but either of those would be successful. When Walmart builds three stores plus a Sam's Club, you know the market equation has to work.

[simpilot]

I suspect the seasonal nature of the population makes investing in a business here more risky than places with a stable population.

[vorage]

I understand this line of thinking, and sometimes do the "if only" thing myself. But you know, if we keep it up, this place will end up looking just like the places we left. We knew when we moved here what we were giving up. All our favorites have become special places we visit when we go to see the kids. We never expected TV to be a clone of our home town. That said, if only there was a really good Asian rice/noodle shop.

[rubicon]

The nostalgic past is the human experience. I never lived anywhere that met all my expectations. I never lived anywhere that didn't find something that was unpleasant. i never had the perfect home..wish this house had a -----.

Lately what I have been using a a litmus test is this.

I decided after 3 years of living here that I wanted to move. my criteria was i didn't want to move "from" but rather i wanted to move "to" meaning that based on my criteria the new place was better. Its been 8 years since and we still can't find that place we want to go "to"

don't want to go back north. Carolina's taxes are higher. All of Florida is overbuilt.

anyone know of a "to place"?

[kcrazorbackfan]

Originally Posted by rubicon

The nostalgic past is the human experience. I never lived anywhere that met all my expectations. I never lived anywhere that didn't find something that was unpleasant. i never had the perfect home..wish this house had a -----.

Lately what I have been using a a litmus test is this.

I decided after 3 years of living here that I wanted to move. my criteria was i didn't want to move "from" but rather i wanted to move "to" meaning that based on my criteria the new place was better. Its been 8 years since and we still can't find that place we want to go "to"

don't want to go back north. Carolina's taxes are higher. All of Florida is overbuilt.

anyone know of a "to place"?

Maybe there is no perfect place; no place where everything is as how we vision the perfect place being or having. Kansas City was perfect until winter came along. To most people here, TV was very close to perfect until it started getting too big. Don't think there is no perfect "to place".

[rubicon]

Originally Posted by kcrazorbackfan

Maybe there is no perfect place; no place where everything is as how we vision the perfect place being or having. Kansas City was perfect until winter came along. To most people here, TV was very close to perfect until it started getting too big. Don't think there is no perfect "to place".

What we discuss here could have deeper implications as to the fact that we had become a mobile society. Families once stayed together generation after generation. and of course the answer to the question rest with the individual and their wants and needs

Many of my boyhood friends( my best friends), remained in our same small city and in many respects I envied them and their continuity as they reared families and their families joined together.....Perhaps I just expound on a romantic notion?

Personal Best Regards: