Trying to become a Comcast customer

16. May 2012 · Write a comment · Categories: Businesses In Celebration

To earn the privilege of giving Comcast $80 every month, I need to drive across Orlando to a payment center and show them my driver’s license.

This was the news delivered to me on Monday morning by telephone by someone trying to process my move order from old house to new house. They are not able to process my order for new TV and high-speed Internet service until I get in my car, drive 19 miles down I-4, show them my drivers license, then get back in my car and drive back home. At that point they would be happy to schedule an installer to come to the house and hook up my service. I was offered no other possible remedies, despite pointing out several times that this was an undue burden for opening an account. Can I fax a copy of my drivers license? No.

The reason I was given is that the previous occupants of this home have an outstanding balance. This is not my problem.

With DSL for Internet and satellite for TV being perfectly acceptable substitutes for a coax cable, does Comcast really want to be throwing up barriers to signup?

I’ve engaged @ComcastCares and @ComcastWill, and while they’ve been responsive, I’m still looking for a call or email that can give me a yes or no as to whether Comcast would like me as a customer. The only reason I’ve waited 2 days so far is that I own a cable modem I’m really happy with!

Sweet Escape Celebration

11. March 2012 · Write a comment · Categories: Businesses In Celebration

Some information is out now for Sweet Escape Celebration, a new food location at the top of Market Street between Thai Thani and the Post Office. The official web site has some basics, and today I received an email (as I had previously filled out an online survey) that included a video and link to a FAQ.

I’ll be interested to know more about how outdoor seating will be arranged and if there will be wifi. Regardless, I’m looking forward to this new addition to our community.

Sales of Water Tower Shoppes, Publix announcement

01. February 2012 · Write a comment · Categories: Businesses In Celebration, Community, Events

This press release was issued by Clarion Partners today regarding their acquisition of the Water Tower Shoppes for $18.3 million. The release also indicates that a Publix grocery store will anchor the plaza.

A grocery store on “this side” of 192 will be more convenient for NEV owners and bike riders than the current Publix at Xentury City.

The Town That Disney Built – A New Film About Celebration, Florida

02. December 2011 · Write a comment · Categories: Businesses In Celebration, Community, Uncategorized

John Baker of JB Creative sent a press release about a new movie about Celebration. John is a filmmaker and Celebration resident.

From the press release:

Celebration is a thriving, diverse and multi-cultural community, set against the backdrop of picturesque homes and public buildings, architecture, nature and scenery.

But to outsiders who visit the town, or read about us in international news reports, there is a common misconception that we live in a pre-fabricated neighborhood, overshadowed by the ominous Walt Disney World and conditioned to live by the rules and regulations of a strict governing home owner’s association.

The Town That Disney Built is a new documentary film that celebrates and honors the Celebration community, with the simple aim: “To document and celebrate the day-to-day lives and times of the residents of Celebration – and to give the community at large a glimpse inside our town, to see what Celebration is truly like – and cut through the mystique, the drama and the misconceptions that exist about our community.”

For more information, and to order, visit www.thetownthatdisneybuilt.com.

Water Tower shopping center

08. June 2011 · Write a comment · Categories: Businesses In Celebration

At the Water Tower shopping center:

  • The Pep Boys does a great job and should be trusted.
  • Platinum Dance is closing to make room for Sweet Bay.
  • The jewelry store is awesome.
  • A new bicycle shop (Evolve Bicycles) is moving in. (OK, this one is true).
  • There’s a friendly homeless person there.
  • Platinum Dance is not closing to make room for Sweet Bay.
  • The library will close or move due to a new major tenant.
  • There’s a French restaurant there.
  • Platinum Dance is moving to make room for Sweet Bay.
  • Joe’s Crab Shack is closing to make room for laser tag.
  • The jewelry store owner is crabby. He’ll kick you out of the band and steal all your good ideas.
  • There’s an unfriendly homeless person there.
  • The Pep Boys is terrible. They’ll charge $7000 for an oil change and then make fun of your clothes.
  • They may be putting in some sort of Publix modeled after Whole Foods.

And I’m sure I’m missing some, so please feel free to add. And yes, one of these is made up.

Savor the Flavors coming May 21

09. May 2011 · Write a comment · Categories: Businesses In Celebration, Community, Events

Celebration will be hosting a unique event on May 21 from 6:30 to 9:30 pm called Savor the Flavors. Dine with friends and neighbors in the open air of Market and Front Streets in downtown Celebration. All the dining establishments downtown are offering prix fixe meals, with the price including dinner, listed complimentary alcoholic beverages, gratuity, taxes, and a charitable donation to benefit Florida Hospital – Celebration Health.

A nice-looking flyer, including the menu for each restaurant, is available at savortheflavors.net. Questions can be answered by calling (407) 566-1200, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CelebrationRecreation.

The hardest part is deciding which terrific Celebration restaurant to choose!

Theater space available

05. May 2011 · Write a comment · Categories: Businesses In Celebration, Real Estate

Just a reminder that there is 11,150sf of prime movie theater space available for sublease in the heart of Celebration, should you happen to be looking. :)

It’s in-between Kilwin’s, a busy ice cream and candies shop, and The Columbia, a busy Spanish/Cuban restaurant. A lot of people here like movies, both first-run and classic, and would support you by buying your tickets and food.

Happiness is…

11. April 2011 · Write a comment · Categories: Businesses In Celebration, Photos

Pad thai and a beer at Thai Thani.

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Grouchos Comedy Celebration first night

09. February 2011 · Write a comment · Categories: Businesses In Celebration, Community, Events, Photos, Socializing

We attended the first night of Grouchos Comedy in Celebration on Feb 5. My wife’s parents do the Canadian snow bird thing, so we were fortunate enough to have trusted help in town to watch our 17 month old for a night. We started at around 7pm at Cafe D’Antonio, me with wine and a kick-ass Caprese di Bufala and the wife choosing to fill up on bread and Bruschetta alla Romana. Hunger sated, we strolled over to Thai Thani for the show.

Now… it was the first night for Grouchos at Thai Thani, so I didn’t know what to expect. I heard about it from Mike Nunez with Lexin a few weeks prior, but didn’t have any insight into how widely it was advertised, how well advanced tickets were sold, or how many people would actually show.

We didn’t do the Dinner & Show deal, which meant we wouldn’t have priority seating. BUT, I was pleasantly surprised to be seated at the back of the room — meaning they had done very well in selling the package and filling the place. There were ‘Reserved For…’ placards posted on most of the tables. Sure enough, by show time the room was packed, a great environment for comedy. “Trailer Park Diva” Michelle Harrington had a great set, and headliner Dean Napolitano absolutely killed.


Notice on the very left of the photo that Nat seems quite happy about things.

All expectations were exceeded — even on an opening night, where glitches are expected — and we shall definitely be repeat visitors. Thanks to Nat with Thai Thani, Larry with Grouchos, Mike with Lexin, and whoever else was involved in bringing this to Celebration. If you’re around Celebration on a Saturday evening, I encourage you to take advantage. The dinner & show package is a tremendous value:

Tickets- $12.00 or $25.00 Dinner Package (includes show, dinner, beverage, and choice of seats)
Menu Includes
Choice of one of the following:
Egg Roll (2-piece)
Crab Rangoons (3-piece)
Chicken Satay (2-piece)

Plus Choose One Entree
(Choice of: Chicken, Beef, Pork, Tofu or Veggies)
Fried Rice
Phad Thai
Sweet & Sour
Garlic Meat
Mixed Vegetables
Cashew Nut
Pepper Steak

All Entrees include choice of soda or Ice Tea.

You can tell them you read about it here, but it won’t get you anything special beyond funny looks. :)

Celebration AMC 2 theater limbo

02. February 2011 · Write a comment · Categories: Businesses In Celebration, Community

No idea what the true status of the (former) Celebration AMC 2 theater is, but here’s what I know.

  1. The theater is still listed for lease on the Sevell Realty Partners web site.
  2. The Sevell agent responsible for the listing has told me directly that it is “temporarily off the market”.
  3. The space is not available for lease from the building’s owner, Lexin Capital.

From what I can observe, the power is still on and food & beverage equipment is still there. Point-of-sale is gone from the concession stand and the box office. I’ve tried to find out from AMC, through their agent, whether projection equipment was left behind, but that answer does not appear to be forthcoming, oddly.

I’ve tried to push something forward for that space as my own personal time allows, but my chief concerns are that 1) my time is limited, since I have a full time job, 2) while I have general business acumen, I have zero movie exhibition experience, 3) I’m not 100% sure what model would work there, and 4) if it’s such a great idea, why hasn’t anyone else stepped up?

Regarding models, it’s one thing to have a few good ideas, but another to flail around trying different things while you’re burning a lot of money each month for rent. There’s no lack of enthusiasm in town for a theater that would play art house, R-rated movies, and cult classics… but would there be enough people voting with their wallets to keep the thing afloat, or would it ultimately be an expensive and humbling lesson about the movie business?

If you do happen to read this, are covertly moving something forward, and would like some assistance, feel free to touch base with me.

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