I for one don't want to abandon the state. It's true Florida has a lot of factors working against it, and there are many areas that aren't safe to live or work in, but despite these drawbacks the state does have a lot of nice places in it.
At *6:40 That Hungarian Restaurant was the best! I remember going there in the 80's. Their food and prices were great! That's to the fast food franchises that serves all the fatty glucose foods.. put these great little restaurants out of business
thank you for your video, i move here a couple years but i love to lived here in Pasco county , have a nice big house big lot yard than other place i have lived long time , but in port Richey & new port Richey better .
I agree with you completely. I was surprised to read about the Target closing in the paper this morning. After I read it I knew I had to do an update about the Piers Plaza. Thanks for watching!
Michigander here. Professional male looking to relocate to Florida. Considering daytona, Cape coral, pensacola bocca Raton, what's safe and close to the ocean
John I've made more money while living in this area than any other I have in my life! I have been able to pursue my hobbies, go on cruises, scuba, go to three Sandals resorts, travel to Europe, Alaskan cruise, I am not trying to put myself over, however there is anyways money to be made!
well I hope things have bottomed out by now and are beginning to come back a bit,John !!! I lived there 25 years ago and it was a very decent place back then and have been considering a winter resideny lately,but again I have not physically been there since early 90's....thanks for posting.
I wish this was the bottom but I don't believe it is. I think things will get a lot worse before they get better. Pasco's only solution is a Permaculture Revolution!
@ thunderbayelectric I think I have seen your company's trucks on the road in the area. I'm glad you watched the video. The Regions bank closed Saturday, January 30th. Things have been rapidly deteriorating in the area. It's my sincerest hope that people start preparing for the hard times ahead. I think the TJMaxx is leaving the Publix plaza within the next few months. Are you from this area originally? Take care, John
@stringfellowhawke247 Thank you for your comment. I don't think Aldi's will do as well as they expect to do in this area. Granted a lot of people will buy food there with their food stamps, but they won't be buying non-food items which are much more profitable for the store.
That's funny because as of 2018, Aldi is doing quite well. It's always packed with people. I do miss having Target close by though. UHaul opened a new store where Service Merch used to be. Burlington is doing well. Not sure about the Ashley Home store, but they seem busy throughout the week. They're building another Aldi at 19 & Main Street where a Walgreens used to be. The IHop closed down, but a new Waffle House opened where Krystal used to be. Things are closing, but others opening. I'd say the area is starting to pick back up...slowly. It kills me to see the pine trees and orange trees being cleared on 54; developers have bought the land and will be putting in a gated condo community. They're trying to push out an entire neighborhood to make room for a park along the Anclote river to go with their condos. It's sad really. The County is throwing it's own citizens under the bus, so to speak, to get more Federal $.
I'm from Canada, and things WERE bad back in 09...A LOT of Florida was in bad shape back then. My grandparents used to own a vacation home in the 1980's on Ruth Drive. (short drive off US -19)I have very fond memories of Port Richie from my childhood (I played quite often at the Gamespot in the arcade heydays back in 1982-84 when we would visit my grand parents at Christmas every year) My parents then purchased the home from them in 1990...After Hurricane Andrew, the home was sadly destroyed. My family and I visited N P Richie in March of 2009 and I did notice a LOT of closed stores bank foreclosures back then. I can't wait to visit again sometime. Is the mall still open? or is it gone now?
Thank you for watching. The situation is very similar in the Tampa bay area. A lot of office space is for lease, especially in downtown Tampa and downtown St. Petersburg. Both cities have quite a few high rises, nothing on the scale of NYC, but pretty big nonetheless. Take care, John
Thanks for documenting the dreadful situation of the area in your videos, John. One thing strikes me as odd is that Pinellas and Hillsboro counties seem to have an abnormally high amount of people driving high end, expensive cars. They are also filling the mid and high price restaurants, and shopping till they drop. With the official unemployment numbers here over 10% (well over 20% in reality) and the low pay FL has always had, how can this be?!
You're very welcome. You'll see a lot less extravagant living in the bay area soon, trust me. Thanks for watching and please forward the video to your contacts. Take care, John
When i talked to my friend up there who's family works for walmart and has for years he was telling me that they were cutting the high paying staff then hiring "part timers" And the layoffs were numbering in the hundreds..
That Motel was still open when I lived there two years ago. I know because my daughter had a friend who was staying there. I know it's getting bad, that's why I moved back up north. Problem is - it's slowly moving everywhere.
They just need to put some effort into fixing up the run down motels and they can sell them. People need to stay in motels and they aren't going to use a run down place when they can go down the road to a better one.
Hi John I saw your video and it really bothers me to know that this is happening here in the USA. I hope people start to wake up before it's too late because this is happening in a lot of different places. I will share your video. God Bless Pedro
@genebob007 I lived in West Pasco for the first 33 years of my life. I finally left in July '11. I had been following the local economy very closely since 2006 and I knew when the housing bust began that a long-term depression would follow. I had really hoped to spend the rest of my life in Pasco county, but I know things can't get better there which is why I left. I do miss it at times and I really wish things could be different, but I know I made the right choice in leaving.
@huanpup The area is bad right now. Unfortunately it's going to get a lot worse when tarballs start washing up on our shores. I anticipate we'll begin seeing that by the end of this month. If you have relatives that live out of state you may want to go visit them for a few weeks or more. Take care, John
Port Richey is worse than New Port Richey regarding crime; and is more populated. Over all though West Pasco isn't as bad as everyone's making it seem. Target closed down, but now a Burlington Coat Factory and Ashley Home Store are there now. The old Service Merchandise Store that sat empty for years has been bought & a UHaul store is there now.
Great video series John(though to be honest I still love reading the St.Pete Times). I spent the lived in Pinellas Park from 78' until 2001 then moved to Holiday in Pasco Co. where I live now. Do I know how to pick'em or what?LOL You won't find a bigger dump than West Pasco county.Except for Gulf Harbors and a few select other developments it makes Pinellas Park look like Bellair Bluffs.West Pasco was a perfect retirement community 40yrs ago but once the retirees started dying off in droves....
really really sad...I tried to move back there two years ago but left after my lease was up....drug's are a big issue, pain clinics everywhere ready to sell you whatever you need.
@thunderbayelectric Jacob's Cabin in front of the mall closed a few weeks ago. And Sam Seltzers closed down completely around the same time. The entire Tampa Bay economy is going through a huge contraction and there isn't anything Obama or Crist or anyone else can do about it. Better stock up on food, water and ammo while you still can. Take care, John
@genebob007 I strongly encourage people who have the ability to to leave Florida. Especially those living south of the Tampa Bay area. Things are going to get far worse there, there's no way around it.
It's not that bad here . I've lived in pasco county for over 30 years and it's not the most exciting place and never has been . For the most part it's still a quiet town and the crime low .
Since then,the Target has undergone several morphs the last one being a Furniture Store.
I for one don't want to abandon the state. It's true Florida has a lot of factors working against it, and there are many areas that aren't safe to live or work in, but despite these drawbacks the state does have a lot of nice places in it.
At *6:40 That Hungarian Restaurant was the best! I remember going there in the 80's. Their food and prices were great! That's to the fast food franchises that serves all the fatty glucose foods.. put these great little restaurants out of business
There are still a few pockets around the country that are doing well. Port Richey isn't one of those though. Thanks for watching and please subscribe.
Excellent video as always John. It's looking the same here in NJ. And this was supposedly a "rich" state. Wall St. supplied 1/3 of the jobs of NJ.
Thank you very much.
thank you for your video, i move here a couple years but i love to lived here in Pasco county , have a nice big house big lot yard than other place i have lived long time , but in port Richey & new port Richey better .
I agree with you completely. I was surprised to read about the Target closing in the paper this morning. After I read it I knew I had to do an update about the Piers Plaza. Thanks for watching!
Michigander here. Professional male looking to relocate to Florida. Considering daytona, Cape coral, pensacola bocca Raton, what's safe and close to the ocean
John I've made more money while living in this area than any other I have in my life! I have been able to pursue my hobbies, go on cruises, scuba, go to three Sandals resorts, travel to Europe, Alaskan cruise, I am not trying to put myself over, however there is anyways money to be made!
Heartbreaking. Lived in Pasco from 1971 to 1989. Very different then. Fun place to grow up back then. I hope it somehow turns around.
Nearly 18 months later, Pasco County is still floundering. Unfortunately, I don't see any catalyst for any sort of recovery.
i agree with you completely. Thank you for watching and for forwarding it. Sincerely, John
That Hungarian restaurant was started by my grand parents. Sad to see what the drugs and crime have done to the town I grew up in.
well I hope things have bottomed out by now and are beginning to come back a bit,John !!!
I lived there 25 years ago and it was a very decent place back then and have been considering
a winter resideny lately,but again I have not physically been there since early 90's....thanks for posting.
I wish this was the bottom but I don't believe it is. I think things will get a lot worse before they get better. Pasco's only solution is a Permaculture Revolution!
The city should take back the land, level those buildings, and then allow people to have farming plots.
I heard that the walmart in New Port Richey is cutting back, along with most in the Hils/pasco areas
I’m planning on moving to new port in a year or two
Stay....where...you....are.
They are turning into a Ghost Plaza.
Wow this is crazy! I moved down to fl in 2016 and have discovered this area in 2018. Needless to say it's gotten even worse. What a throwback though
I left that horrible place last year and have no desire to return.
You make a compelling argument. Thanks for watching and take care. Sincerely, John
Any time sir!
@ thunderbayelectric
I think I have seen your company's trucks on the road in the area.
I'm glad you watched the video. The Regions bank closed Saturday, January 30th.
Things have been rapidly deteriorating in the area. It's my sincerest hope that people start preparing for the hard times ahead.
I think the TJMaxx is leaving the Publix plaza within the next few months.
Are you from this area originally?
Take care,
John
@stringfellowhawke247
Thank you for your comment.
I don't think Aldi's will do as well as they expect to do in this area. Granted a lot of people will buy food there with their food stamps, but they won't be buying non-food items which are much more profitable for the store.
That's funny because as of 2018, Aldi is doing quite well. It's always packed with people. I do miss having Target close by though. UHaul opened a new store where Service Merch used to be. Burlington is doing well. Not sure about the Ashley Home store, but they seem busy throughout the week. They're building another Aldi at 19 & Main Street where a Walgreens used to be. The IHop closed down, but a new Waffle House opened where Krystal used to be. Things are closing, but others opening. I'd say the area is starting to pick back up...slowly. It kills me to see the pine trees and orange trees being cleared on 54; developers have bought the land and will be putting in a gated condo community. They're trying to push out an entire neighborhood to make room for a park along the Anclote river to go with their condos. It's sad really. The County is throwing it's own citizens under the bus, so to speak, to get more Federal $.
Plaza is still sitting there like a turd today.
I know. Thanks for the video - brings back memories.
I'm from Canada, and things WERE bad back in 09...A LOT of Florida was in bad shape back then. My grandparents used to own a vacation home in the 1980's on Ruth Drive. (short drive off US -19)I have very fond memories of Port Richie from my childhood (I played quite often at the Gamespot in the arcade heydays back in 1982-84 when we would visit my grand parents at Christmas every year) My parents then purchased the home from them in 1990...After Hurricane Andrew, the home was sadly destroyed. My family and I visited N P Richie in March of 2009 and I did notice a LOT of closed stores bank foreclosures back then. I can't wait to visit again sometime. Is the mall still open? or is it gone now?
It's still open
Thank you for watching. The situation is very similar in the Tampa bay area. A lot of office space is for lease, especially in downtown Tampa and downtown St. Petersburg. Both cities have quite a few high rises, nothing on the scale of NYC, but pretty big nonetheless. Take care, John
You're very welcome. I hope you'll forward it to your contacts. Thanks for watching. Sincerely, John :o)
You're right. Thank you for your comment. Sincerely, John
Thanks for documenting the dreadful situation of the area in your videos, John.
One thing strikes me as odd is that Pinellas and Hillsboro counties seem to have an abnormally high amount of people driving high end, expensive cars. They are also filling the mid and high price restaurants, and shopping till they drop.
With the official unemployment numbers here over 10% (well over 20% in reality) and the low pay FL has always had, how can this be?!
Because people with $ from up North, move to Florida and live well due to the cheaper living expenses.
GOOD JOB IN REPORTING WHAT'S GOING ON
@purelh
We're going to see people leave Pasco by the thousands soon. This mass exodus will be caused by the oil disaster.
Thanks for watching.
-John
I hope they don't live in Regency Park, that's where I live and it's really going to hell!
You're very welcome. You'll see a lot less extravagant living in the bay area soon, trust me. Thanks for watching and please forward the video to your contacts.
Take care, John
i live in pasco and this town is gone down the shitter every1 is hooked on roxy's here its really bad cant wait to get outta this dump
Thank you for watching and please subscribe. Take care, John
That's pretty crazy stuff, thank you for sharing that information.
I hope to run again at some point in the future. Take care, John
When i talked to my friend up there who's family works for walmart and has for years he was telling me that they were cutting the high paying staff then hiring "part timers"
And the layoffs were numbering in the hundreds..
What does any1 think will happen 2 this area?Reminds of the POOR upper midwest.
That Motel was still open when I lived there two years ago. I know because my daughter had a friend who was staying there. I know it's getting bad, that's why I moved back up north. Problem is - it's slowly moving everywhere.
They just need to put some effort into fixing up the run down motels and they can sell them. People need to stay in motels and they aren't going to use a run down place when they can go down the road to a better one.
Thanks for the complement. I didn't know that. Try to find ways to become more self-sufficient, that's the best advice I can give. Take care, John
You mean cutting back its staff?
Hi John I saw your video and it really bothers me to know that this is happening here in the USA. I hope people start to wake up before it's too late because this is happening in a lot of different places. I will share your video. God Bless Pedro
@TheSimplyPugChannel
It's a lot worse now than when I shot this video back in November. That much is for sure! Thanks for watching. Take care, John
Unfortunately things are going to get a lot worse.
Please forward this video to your friends who live in the area.
Thank you,
John
@genebob007
I lived in West Pasco for the first 33 years of my life. I finally left in July '11. I had been following the local economy very closely since 2006 and I knew when the housing bust began that a long-term depression would follow.
I had really hoped to spend the rest of my life in Pasco county, but I know things can't get better there which is why I left. I do miss it at times and I really wish things could be different, but I know I made the right choice in leaving.
I would say we'll hear about a lot of those come January. Take care, John
It's too bad about those hotels closing. They could be renting those rooms to low income families for like $70 a week.
i think he is in florida.
It's actually a really good location. The casino boat is less than 1,000 feet from there.
Thank you, I wish they would too. Take care, John
Would be interested in seeing an updated version, no more Kazu's :(
this is beyond depressing. i spent every winter and vacation here with my family and grandparents. seems like it's all gone when they were "gone"
@huanpup
The area is bad right now. Unfortunately it's going to get a lot worse when tarballs start washing up on our shores. I anticipate we'll begin seeing that by the end of this month.
If you have relatives that live out of state you may want to go visit them for a few weeks or more.
Take care,
John
So Port Richey sucks now. That's the vibe of the replies.
Port Richey is worse than New Port Richey regarding crime; and is more populated. Over all though West Pasco isn't as bad as everyone's making it seem. Target closed down, but now a Burlington Coat Factory and Ashley Home Store are there now. The old Service Merchandise Store that sat empty for years has been bought & a UHaul store is there now.
Great video series John(though to be honest I still love reading the St.Pete Times). I spent the lived in Pinellas Park from 78' until 2001 then moved to Holiday in Pasco Co. where I live now. Do I know how to pick'em or what?LOL You won't find a bigger dump than West Pasco county.Except for Gulf Harbors and a few select other developments it makes Pinellas Park look like Bellair Bluffs.West Pasco was a perfect retirement community 40yrs ago but once the retirees started dying off in droves....
That part of Florida should return to it's agricultural roots. It was foolish to pave over some of the most productive citrus land in the first place.
I live here
@EconCat88
The amount of prostitutes and drug addicts running around here increases by the day. It's f*ckin' depressing!
Unfortunately I could see that happening.
@REDPITTBULL05
The city faces many challenges, that much is for sure.
really really sad...I tried to move back there two years ago but left after my lease was up....drug's are a big issue, pain clinics everywhere ready to sell you whatever you need.
@TornTesticle
The whole state is suffering from an economic implosion. It's going to take at least a decade for this state to recover.
Be sure to read my article on wild edibles in this video's details section. It's very enlightening.
@thunderbayelectric
Jacob's Cabin in front of the mall closed a few weeks ago. And Sam Seltzers closed down completely around the same time.
The entire Tampa Bay economy is going through a huge contraction and there isn't anything Obama or Crist or anyone else can do about it. Better stock up on food, water and ammo while you still can.
Take care,
John
pasco has always been a low income toilet, nothing new,wish I could get on welfare like everyone else in Pasco
@EconCat88
I agree with you.
@genebob007
I strongly encourage people who have the ability to to leave Florida. Especially those living south of the Tampa Bay area. Things are going to get far worse there, there's no way around it.
Going Broke
@specialsauce05
I'm sorry to have upset you.
It's not that bad here . I've lived in pasco county for over 30 years and it's not the most exciting place and never has been . For the most part it's still a quiet town and the crime low .
LOL crime low?
are you a geezer? the crime ohjs high
pasco has always been a low income toilet, nothing new,wish I could get on welfare like everyone else in Pasco