[Madelaine Amee]

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 - and as for Nordstroms coming this way, I think that is more than a reach. I don't think Macy's or Dillards will come here. After all, it's only 18 miles to Ocala and you have all the stores you could possibly need, and then how far is it to the Nordstroms mall in Orlando ................. To me, that's a dream on situation.

[Phanatic Luvr]

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.

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.

[KathieI]

Originally Posted by DougB

Don't really care myself. If I wanted all that, I would Have stayed where I was.

Totally agree. TJ was across the street from my house and I rarely went in there to shop. Costco's was a mile away as was many, many other stores, and I rarely used them also. If I want to go to these stores, I'll drive.

[Tweety Bird]

Originally Posted by DougB

Don't really care myself. If I wanted all that, I would Have stayed where I was.

You wouldn't be my type. LOL ;-)

[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.

[Bogie Shooter]

If you believe any of this rumor........I have some beautiful water front land for sale in south Florida.

[Baileysmom]

I would be happy if Trader Joes came to the Villages. They are afforable and have some interesting choices.

[ilovetv]

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.

Both the Florida Turnpike and I-75 are just a couple of miles from Brownwood. We drive thru Brownwood to get to the turnpike to go 35 miles south to shop in Winter Garden Village--specifically for HomeGoods-Marshalls--or to Marketplace at Dr. Phillips Blvd. outside Orlando, where there is SteinMart, Whole Foods etc. in that area. HomeGoods at Winter Garden Village has told me they have literally car-loads of shoppers from The Villages coming there. TV and surrounding area could more than support a place like WinterGarden Village and its stores/restaurants.

[Mack184]

Originally Posted by JP

I recently heard from an extremely good source that there will be a Trader Joe's built on the vacant land West of Brownwood. She also said there will be a Macy's and possibly a Sears. I know people hate rumors but......I think this source is good and wouldn't it be great if it were true.

Did you hear this from the janitor at Publix or the waitress at Denny's?

[Bonny]

Originally Posted by ilovetv

Both the Florida Turnpike and I-75 are just a couple of miles from Brownwood. We drive thru Brownwood to get to the turnpike to go 35 miles south to shop in Winter Garden Village--specifically for HomeGoods-Marshalls--or to Marketplace at Dr. Phillips Blvd. outside Orlando, where there is SteinMart, Whole Foods etc. in that area. HomeGoods at Winter Garden Village has told me they have literally car-loads of shoppers from The Villages coming there. TV and surrounding area could more than support a place like WinterGarden Village and its stores/restaurants.

This would be fine for Villagers, but it won't attract many outsiders to the Brownwood area. These stores are in business to make money and the Villages wouldn't come close to supporting these types of stores.

[mickey100]

Originally Posted by ilovetv

Both the Florida Turnpike and I-75 are just a couple of miles from Brownwood. We drive thru Brownwood to get to the turnpike to go 35 miles south to shop in Winter Garden Village--specifically for HomeGoods-Marshalls--or to Marketplace at Dr. Phillips Blvd. outside Orlando, where there is SteinMart, Whole Foods etc. in that area. HomeGoods at Winter Garden Village has told me they have literally car-loads of shoppers from The Villages coming there. TV and surrounding area could more than support a place like WinterGarden Village and its stores/restaurants.

We know a lot of Villagers that go to Orlando specifically because of those stores. Given residents in The Villages, Leesburg and Wildwood, I wouldn't be surprised if the stores could do well in Brownwood.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Originally Posted by Russ_Boston

Could you detail why you think taxes would go up? Usually a solid commercial base helps to maintain current rates.

I don't think it will be Sears. They're not really in an expansion phase!

I think that he's thinking that property values will go up. Even if tax rates stay the same people will pay lore because their properties are valued higher.

[Mack184]

Originally Posted by Dr Winston O Boogie jr

I think that he's thinking that property values will go up. Even if tax rates stay the same people will pay lore because their properties are valued higher.

Which of course means that the people who live in Sumter county who are not in TV will hate the Villagers even more than the already do.

[justjim]

Originally Posted by Mack184

Which of course means that the people who live in Sumter county who are not in TV will hate the Villagers even more than the already do.

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....

[Mikeod]

Originally Posted by ilovetv

. HomeGoods at Winter Garden Village has told me they have literally car-loads of shoppers from The Villages coming there. TV and surrounding area could more than support a place like WinterGarden Village and its stores/restaurants.

And there is the reason they won't put a store here soon. If residents are willing to drive to those locations to shop, why build another store with all the added expenses? Would the overall sales go up enough to cover the new store and replace the lost sales at the existing store?

Now, if the existing stores became inadequate to serve the demand, then it may be prudent to investigate the advantage of a store in or around TV.