Starkey Market — Local services in Starkey Ranch

I don't write a lot of reviews anymore, but I think I should. This is longer, but I want to show that my thoughts process is far from flippant:

The place was built very thoughtfully, I love the idea and I love produce markets. I'm a native Floridian from Ocala, so I like the cozy country vibe, but I came for a late breakfast bagel and a coffee, only to see that the attendant did the following as I waited in line: although he was wearing a mask and gloves, he would intermittently touch it. It was not necessary because it was a surgical mask that fit just fine. The young man, fairly tall with short golden brown hair, then operated the customer payment touch screen after they touched it, handled the bakery fridge and the item he handed her and next, the entire coffee cup, including the rim, which he was going to serve to her, all whilst wearing the same gloves.

Thanks, but if I have to ask to change your gloves to touch my coffee and next, handle my meal after you just touched everything else with the same gloves, I think I'll go somewhere that practices sensibly.

Now, at the same time, when we order food/beverages while we're out, especially if the same person making it handles the front end, we have to trust that the person washes their hands after they touch their mask, the credit card machine, the register, etc., but seeing it right before my eyes in the midst of a pandemic, immediately deterred me. During this, I have ordered take-out and utilized drive-thrus, but I do not eat out.

Like I said, it's very pretty, but no one is wearing masks in a fairly small environment outside or in the bar and we're still in a pandemic. Now, once you do get your tainted food & beverages, if you don't want to be around the maskless people, you can walk out further in the field or up the balcony and you can successfully socially distance from there.

As a business, it's very hard to guide people to do the right thing and I understand this, but train your beverage and food handlers with an abundance of care during a pandemic.

It's genuinely depressing that the one outdoor place with a small, but cozy, open set-up that I could think of near me still can't get it right.

Maybe if they allow you to bring your own wine for a cork fee, I'd consider going and just distance outside as mentioned.

Post-pandemic, I'm sure I'd feel differently, but ya still got to either wash your hands or change your gloves in a restaurant environment. Maybe it's years of working in them that has made...

Took my twins here recently and we had a blast, I’m so glad I finally got to see what starkey Market was all about! My kids were entertained with climbing the structures with trees and the observation tower looking over the barn. They have a play area for kids with tractors and tree logs, shovels and Tonka trucks to play in the dirt! So much fun! They had live music and Chris Poe was the musician and he was awesome! Playing classics and my girl and boy and I had so much fun dancing on the wooden dance floor in front of the stage! Core memory forsure! I spoke to him on his break and sent him some money on cashapp as a tip but mainly a thank you for making our days so much brighter. The coffee shop was a delight and the cold brew was delicious, they have ice cream and honey straws as well! Cute knick-knacks for sale and fresh bread and fruits! Then when you go to the restaurant/bar it’s such a vibe. They make delicious cocktails and have seasonal ones that look amazing. The IPAs they have on deck are very specific and so yummy! Definitely go check it out, the whole place is great for families, individuals, couples, it’s relaxing and overall a good time. They also hold tons of events here like April 12th they will be having over 50 vendors selling handmade items, I love events like that! Always check their instagram or website for more info about different events. They let little ones pick strawberries and blueberries, whatever is in season. Ahhh I just love it here and am so glad it’s apart of our area, you can tell they take pride in what they do and maintain the properties they own with such dignity. Will...

I drove past this place a ton and kept telling myself that i needed to stop in. Several weeks after they opened, I stopped in.. accidentally a week early, I had wanted to be at their grand opening. The place is adorable, it smelled fantastic when you walk in. Its beautiful to look at, however EVERY piece of produce i bought was rotten. Plums, peaches, apples, avocados all looked gorgeous and felt as they should, but the insides were dried up, brown, mush. I was so disappointed!!! The grapes and tomatoes, werent bad, but they really had no flavor. I HATE leaving bad reviews but I wanted to be honest, because the prices arent equivalent to a produce stand, they are equal to publix, maybe slightly more, but Publix has better produce. Im sorry to say, even the service was poor. No one asked if anyone needed help, yet there was plenty of staff around, all too busy to stop. Several shoppers commented on this I had to ask a patron where she got a basket to carry her things, another shopper asked me the same. The girl on the register took a long time ringing people, was asked if she had things under control by another employee and said she did...with a line of 6. At my turn to pay, yet another employee came up for some kind of transaction and neither apologized or acknowledged the long line or any of the people. I was very disappointed. I intended to go back to speak w the owner, even took pictures of the produce, but I just have not had the time. Im so sorry Starkeys, your park is beautiful your blueberry patch is great, but i was sorely disappointed...