[Altavia]

Downtown – Middleton

In downtown Middleton you’ll find shops, dining and entertainment experiences that cater to the community.

Imagine a splash park, ice cream shops, side-by-side with your grocer, hair salon and more. A place where one could start your own business and grow with this new community.

Downtown businesses on the horizon

We’re well on our way to bringing these great businesses to you in Middleton!


Enjoy dining options such as:

4 Rivers Smokehouse
Victory Family Sports Grill
Abbott's Frozen Custard
Drive Through Coffee Shop
Sports Bar
24 Middleton
Zunzibar
Sushi Restaurant
Family Italian Restaurant
Sub Shop
Breakfast & Lunch Restaurant
Pizzeria
Enjoy shopping & service options such as
Mustard Seed Decor & Gifts
Citizens First Bank - Now Open
Pharmacy
Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming
Provisions Grocery & Essentials
The Villages Outdoor
Circle K
Custom Apparel
Hand & Stone SPA

[Bill14564]

I would love to explore downtown Middleton. It seems like I've been hearing about it for three years now. Unfortunately, the last time I was in the area there still was no downtown Middleton to explore.

Any information at all on when things will begin to open?

[VAtoFLA]

Getting close. With Middleton and Eastport on the horizon, it's getting sweeter in the south.

[jimhoward]

I heard a rumor that Victory Sports bar was planning a Saint Patrick's day opening.

One thing that is definitely open is the high school. The football stadium is hopping with an event seemingly every day and night. The stream of cars on central parkway heading to or from Middleton is very long at times.

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

I would love to explore downtown Middleton. It seems like I've been hearing about it for three years now. Unfortunately, the last time I was in the area there still was no downtown Middleton to explore.

Any information at all on when things will begin to open?

My family moved toTV between 2000-2004. Remember how long LSL took to develop? The developer opened businesses to help fill empty spaces. Lots of buildings waiting for tenants to sign leases. We would travel to SS for years until LSL had more storefronts open.

Brownwood still has open buildings waiting for a tenant agreement. It takes years of planning and contracts only to have business back out.

Have to say Middleton development is the first entertainment area that seems to have an abundance of businesses signing quickly. Waiting for the build to be completed, to get their enterprise up and running. Instead of build and they will come, that has happened in LSL and Brownwood.

I am sure if you take a minute you will remember how long the other squares took, in the early 2000’s

[Altavia]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

I would love to explore downtown Middleton. It seems like I've been hearing about it for three years now. Unfortunately, the last time I was in the area there still was no downtown Middleton to explore.

Any information at all on when things will begin to open?

Some hints in the various videos on the site. Looks like 5-6 of the business/ restaurants are hiring and in final outfitting.

One distinction over previous commercial areas is they have relocated groups of employees into office space there. Some Parking lots are relatively full during the day.

Several of the Restaurants are operating food trucks to support the locals and employees until the restaurants open.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by asianthree

My family moved toTV between 2000-2004. Remember how long LSL took to develop? The developer opened businesses to help fill empty spaces. Lots of buildings waiting for tenants to sign leases. We would travel to SS for years until LSL had more storefronts open.

Brownwood still has open buildings waiting for a tenant agreement. It takes years of planning and contracts only to have business back out.

Have to say Middleton development is the first entertainment area that seems to have an abundance of businesses signing quickly. Waiting for the build to be completed, to get their enterprise up and running. Instead of build and they will come, that has happened in LSL and Brownwood.

I am sure if you take a minute you will remember how long the other squares took, in the early 2000’s

Not arguing about how long it takes, just whining about the multiple "Come visit us" messages when there is nothing to visit.

Tell me when it will be open and I'll put it on my calendar. Keep telling me that I need to be excited but not just yet and I'll soon (already?) begin to get annoyed and choose to stay away.

I wonder if some of the business backed out (and still do) because of the years of planning, contracting, and waiting.

[ROCKETMAN]

Don Wiley said by looking at the footprint it looks like a Walmart Market. Definitely not a Publix.

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

Not arguing about how long it takes, just whining about the multiple "Come visit us" messages when there is nothing to visit.

Tell me when it will be open and I'll put it on my calendar. Keep telling me that I need to be excited but not just yet and I'll soon (already?) begin to get annoyed and choose to stay away.

I wonder if some of the business backed out (and still do) because of the years of planning, contracting, and waiting.

Business rarely back of because of waiting for a build, they back out because it’s no longer an advantage to them, usually over legal agreements, and long before a build starts. Look how many Years Costco was looking on the books, but didn’t finally settle until last year.

So you were here in the early stages of LSL, big difference no drone videos, or website info from the developers, or until 2008ish TOTV.

DS was the only source, one couldn’t drive down undeveloped road to see what was being built. Just an announcement in paper a business was opening.

Many are happy with all the information that now is provided for new areas. I hardly doubt Middleton and Eastport will fail because “they are annoyed by public announcements” and won’t show. Today’s info is like instant gratification. No more secret, surprised builds to everyone, just upfront information on how your lifestyle could change.

Then again some love to be in the dark, less information the better. So skipping some threads that may make you annoyed might be better health wise

[Altavia]

Originally Posted by ROCKETMAN

Don Wiley said by looking at the footprint it looks like a Walmart Market. Definitely not a Publix.

For those not around at the time, here's a thread discussing what looked like potential Middleton & Eastport groceries that momentarily appeared on a layer of the Villages Map about a year ago.

Groceries in Middleton/Eastport?

[justjim]

Originally Posted by Altavia

Downtown – Middleton

In downtown Middleton you’ll find shops, dining and entertainment experiences that cater to the community.

Imagine a splash park, ice cream shops, side-by-side with your grocer, hair salon and more. A place where one could start your own business and grow with this new community.

Downtown businesses on the horizon

We’re well on our way to bringing these great businesses to you in Middleton!


Enjoy dining options such as:

4 Rivers Smokehouse
Victory Family Sports Grill
Abbott's Frozen Custard
Drive Through Coffee Shop
Sports Bar
24 Middleton
Zunzibar
Sushi Restaurant
Family Italian Restaurant
Sub Shop
Breakfast & Lunch Restaurant
Pizzeria
Enjoy shopping & service options such as
Mustard Seed Decor & Gifts
Citizens First Bank - Now Open
Pharmacy
Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming
Provisions Grocery & Essentials
The Villages Outdoor
Circle K
Custom Apparel
Hand & Stone SPA

No neighborhood Walmart? Maybe Publix and Walmart not in downtown but close by?

[Michael 61]

Originally Posted by asianthree

Business rarely back of because of waiting for a build, they back out because it’s no longer an advantage to them, usually over legal agreements, and long before a build starts. Look how many Years Costco was looking on the books, but didn’t finally settle until last year.

So you were here in the early stages of LSL, big difference no drone videos, or website info from the developers, or until 2008ish TOTV.

DS was the only source, one couldn’t drive down undeveloped road to see what was being built. Just an announcement in paper a business was opening.

Many are happy with all the information that now is provided for new areas. I hardly doubt Middleton and Eastport will fail because “they are annoyed by public announcements” and won’t show. Today’s info is like instant gratification. No more secret, surprised builds to everyone, just upfront information on how your lifestyle could change.

Then again some love to be in the dark, less information the better. So skipping some threads that may make you annoyed might be better health wise

Appreciate your historical perspective from one who has been around to watch The Villages unfold for decades now.

This is all so exciting. The future of The Villages is just beginning.

[Altavia]

Originally Posted by justjim

No neighborhood Walmart? Maybe Publix and Walmart not in downtown but close by?

According to GoldWingnut, construction has started on the Publix at Eastport.

Stay tuned for the Walmart Market in Middleton.

The CVS footprint at Magnolia was on the map 5yrs before construction started.

Here's a leasing map that appeared on FB a couple of months ago.

[Altavia]

Originally Posted by asianthree

My family moved toTV between 2000-2004. Remember how long LSL took to develop? The developer opened businesses to help fill empty spaces. Lots of buildings waiting for tenants to sign leases. We would travel to SS for years until LSL had more storefronts open.

Brownwood still has open buildings waiting for a tenant agreement. It takes years of planning and contracts only to have business back out.

Have to say Middleton development is the first entertainment area that seems to have an abundance of businesses signing quickly. Waiting for the build to be completed, to get their enterprise up and running. Instead of build and they will come, that has happened in LSL and Brownwood.

I am sure if you take a minute you will remember how long the other squares took, in the early 2000’s

They are announcing businesses far earlier in Middleton than before. Maybe to help attract employees?

Middleton is being designed and developed by and for employees of the Villages.

[coconutmama]

Originally Posted by Altavia

They are announcing businesses far earlier in Middleton than before. Maybe to help attract employees?

Middleton is being designed and developed by and for employees of the Villages.

I understand that the Splash Pad will be for Middleton children only? That we cannot take our grandchildren there? Rather like Middleton residents not having access to our recreation features?

If so, we need a Splash Pad at a rec center or park area. Nice idea.