Rainbow Square, Dunnellon, Florida (Tampa, Deltona: 2015, homes, bankruptcy)

[Carolina Knight]

Rainbow Square is a retail center located at the northwest quadrant of North Williams Street and Robinson Road in the City of Dunnellon in Marion County, Florida.

Kash N' Karry/Sweetbay/Winn-Dixie, 11352 North Williams Street, Dunnellon, Florida 34432-8304

A supermarket, Kash N' Karry, previously anchored Rainbow Square. Kash N' Karry converted to Sweetbay in the early 2000's. Sweetbay was acquired by BI-LO Holdings (now Southeastern Grocers) in 2013. The store converted to a BI-LO Holdings supermarket banner, Winn-Dixie. Winn-Dixie closed in 2015. (Winn-Dixie #2204, The Village Shops, 10055 South United States Highway 41, Dunnellon, Florida 34432-4190, is approximately 1.6 miles away.)

Publix, 11352 North Williams Street, Dunnellon, Florida 34432-8304

Another supermarket, Publix, is speculated to open a 45,600-square-foot store at the former Kash N' Karry/Sweetbay/Winn-Dixie location.

Further reading
Anguiano, Richard. "City official: Publix wants to put a supermarket in Dunnellon." Ocala Star-Banner. 16 November 2016.

[Carolina Knight]

Dunnellon City Council approved site plans for Publix at Rainbow Square at its Monday, 8 May 2017, meeting.

Construction of Publix should begin in the fall. The former 38,000-square-foot Kash N' Karry/Sweetbay/Winn-Dixie supermarket will be demolished. Trees closest to North Williams Street will be removed and replaced with new flora.

The 45,600-square-foot Publix is projected to open in 2018.

Further reading
"Publix plans OK’d." Riverland News. 11 May 2017.

[TOMD]

Dunnellon seems to be growing. A few new establishments have been built in the past year. Also Hw 41 & 40 are scheduled to be widened. Seems there is more traffic this yr also.

[dontaskwhy]

When I moved to the Dunnellon area in 1980, there was only 1 traffic light and no franchise restaurants (McDonalds, Pizza Hut, KFC).

I graduated in 1986 with only 100 seniors from the high school.

Dunnellon has changed quite a bit and will continue to change for better or worse.

[kmarc]

Originally Posted by dontaskwhy

When I moved to the Dunnellon area in 1980, there was only 1 traffic light and no franchise restaurants (McDonalds, Pizza Hut, KFC).

I graduated in 1986 with only 100 seniors from the high school.

Dunnellon has changed quite a bit and will continue to change for better or worse.

So what's Dunnellon like these days? Seems like a nice quiet area, with beautiful springs. But that's the view from a distance. I'm wondering what it's like to live there, how far you have to drive to get to shopping, etc. What's Rainbow Lakes Estates/Rainbow's End area like? How it is for seniors, or people close to being seniors?

[Dax13]

Originally Posted by kmarc

So what's Dunnellon like these days? Seems like a nice quiet area, with beautiful springs. But that's the view from a distance. I'm wondering what it's like to live there, how far you have to drive to get to shopping, etc. What's Rainbow Lakes Estates/Rainbow's End area like? How it is for seniors, or people close to being seniors?

Dunnellon has sooooo much potential, but......Publix is only just now coming to town, the only Walmart is cramped, overpopulated, dirty, and frequently "under-inventoried." There is a Sav-a-Lot and a Winn Dixie. There are no department stores, movie theaters, or sit-down chain restaurants. No hospitals and extremely limited medical offices. Most everyone commutes to Ocala for employment, medical, restaurants, and shopping. It is 15-20 miles to Ocala via 2-laned 484 or the recently widened SR 40. The city proper verges on bankruptcy due an ill-conceived plan for a city-owned hi-speed internet venture, among other things. There has been a spirited debate about whether they can afford the Police Department or just turn it over to Marion County. The city also bought a private water company that serviced an unincorporated area and promptly raised rates an astronomical amount with no reason other than to help avoid the looming bankruptcy. The tax base is small and property values, while depressed, were never that great anyway. Rainbow Lakes Estates is a massive land development venture that is decades old. It is largely undeveloped and the majority of the homes there are old, small Deltona styles. The two small lakes were all but dried up until the recent rains started to restore them. RLE is not in Dunnellon proper, is on individual well and septic systems, and has its share of drug-related issues. Unfortunately, no builder/developer is interested in setting up shop out there so unless you want to do a custom build, inventory is limited.

It all depends on if that is the rural lifestyle you want to live. I consider it a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there.


YMMV
Dax

[kmarc]

Thanks, Dax. Sounds like a realistic view of the area. Nice to visit. To live, not so much. Darned shame.

[Dax13]

Originally Posted by kmarc

Thanks, Dax. Sounds like a realistic view of the area. Nice to visit. To live, not so much. Darned shame.

You're welcome. It does have great potential, with the confluence of the Rainbow Springs/River and the Withlacoochie for swimming, SUP, tubing, boating, and such, but due to locks and other reasons, it is an isolated run. They are trying to capitalize on the eco-tourism trend and have recently opened up an extended bike trail. They have actively fought to protect what little undeveloped land remains along the Rainbow River, and have promoted several festivals, along with getting rid of those "red light" cameras that were openly admitted revenue raisers. Dunnellon is/has been off the radar of fresh blood from south Florida and retirees from the north, resulting in (what I perceive as) less experienced/savvy leadership to actively promote and shape Dunnellon. The Marion County Commisioners have largely ignored the unincorporated areas surrounding Dunnellon as well, due to low population density and lack of a coordinated effort by nonexistent business partnerships. Except for Rainbow Springs, they ignore the western edge of Marion County, ceding it to Dunnellon. It is beginning to evolve but for now, it is easier and more convenient to live closer to the newer heart of Ocala along the SW SR 200 corridor than live in Dunnellon and drive 15-20 miles when you need something from Lowes, see a movie, get blood work done, or find a specialist.

Dax

[kmarc]

Yes, 200 is quite the corridor. We've been travelling a bit in the Ocala area recently. I can tell you that it IS on the radar of retirees from...FLORIDA! Folks who live further down the state and are not happy with skyrocketing costs and getting hemmed in on all sides by more development.

LOL, one older couple I know is selling their property in a retirement community south of Tampa and have already purchased something in OTOW.

Marion County is gaining a good reputation among the older crowd down here. Dunellon may not yet be on the radar, but it will be.

[Dax13]

Originally Posted by kmarc

Yes, 200 is quite the corridor. We've been travelling a bit in the Ocala area recently. I can tell you that it IS on the radar of retirees from...FLORIDA! Folks who live further down the state and are not happy with skyrocketing costs and getting hemmed in on all sides by more development.

LOL, one older couple I know is selling their property in a retirement community south of Tampa and have already purchased something in OTOW.

Marion County is gaining a good reputation among the older crowd down here. Dunellon may not yet be on the radar, but it will be.

No disagreement from me. I know Marion, Pinellas, Hillborough, Hernando, Pasco, Lake county, and more. I live in the SW 200 corridor and love the convenience. The growth explosion has been phenomenal, although the increased traffic is ridiculous. Thankfully, there are always scenic backroads to use. I keep pestering the Transportation Planning Authority to do a Looper-like Trolley from 484 to the Downtown Square, with stops along the way. It's a no brainer and will happen eventually. At 6 lanes, 200 is built out. As you have seen, there is still a lot of available space in relatively close proximity to that corridor, from SR 40 south to 484. Between that, the availability of SECO electric, BrightHouse Cable, the expansion of West Marion to a proper hospital, and existing infrastructure, I see more affluent retirees moving to this area, with younger families filling in available lots in Ocala Waterway. South of 484/W of 200 planned development along the Withlacoochiewas denied, pending fill-in of already available platted developments. Marion Oaks south of 484 still a gamble, north of 484 nominally better, Timberwood still trying to mask it's Marion Oaks origination, but the location is still attractive/favorable enough for builders to venture in at a more attractive price than the remote lots of Dunnellon that add to the cost. The massive horse farm at 200 and Airport Rd is being sold for what appears to be mixed retail/residential. The SW 49th Ave to 66th St extension is all but a done deal and is planned to go all the way to the flyover across from Kohls. As I said, lots of availability and convenience before Dunnellon is more desirable for anyone in the next 10-15 years. They won't have the population density to support major retail/medical expansion. Yet.

Dax