These are the ambitious £30m plans to transform a key site in the heart of Rhyl.
Denbighshire council is investing £5m into buying the former Savoy Hotel and Queen’s Market buildings - paving the way for a major retail, restaurant, market and residential development.
This would see some buildings demolished like the Savoy amusements and former Bistro nightclub and others restored. It includes the hope of bringing the decorative market hall roof back to life and opening it up to the public.
But the local authority has found no trace of 'Little Venice' - an almost mythical 1900s Venetian themed attraction that was said to be sealed under the floor of the Queen's Market structure.
Further excavation of the site will take place.
It is latest part of the regeneration of the town centre of the seaside resort as the local authority bids to help revive its fortunes.
Graham Boase, the Council’s Corporate Director for the Economy and Public Realm, said: "This is ambitious - but it is time for something different for this site because the market has failed.
"Five years ago people would never have thought we would have Premier Inn and Travelodge in the centre or Rhyl, they are here now.
"So while this is ambitious this can be done.
"We have bought the site, we will put outline planning in place and it is likely we will also start some of the preparation work like demolishing parts of the site.
"But then it is down to investors to come in - this has to then be market led and whatever comes here needs to be economically viable."
Under the outline plans a contemporary market hall space would be created at the heart of the site as well as an open courtyard.
Work is now progressing on the initial designs, costings and viability of the project, which forms part of the long term vision for Rhyl Town Centre.
A planning application is expected to be submitted before the end of the year.
Mr Boase added: “We see the Queen’s Buildings as key in the regeneration of Rhyl.
"This site will be pivotal in linking the regeneration on the waterfront to the town centre and providing a fantastic offer in its own right. This project can transform the town centre.
“After 12 months of working with businesses, residents and visitors to Rhyl the feedback was that the town centre needed a vibrant market space to draw people into the town centre and increase footfall.
"This will help support and grow businesses and our vision sees local, independent traders as central to this, creating jobs and opportunities locally.
“Parts of the buildings are in very poor condition and whilst we will try and retain as much of the original architecture as possible, there will inevitably be areas that will need to be demolished.”
The project is being funded by Denbighshire County Council, the Welsh Government and the European Regional Development Fund.
Ion Developments is the Council’s development partner for the 97,000 sq ft site.
The site will remain open in the coming months with current occupiers continuing to trade.
A spokesman added: "The Council and the previous owners have found no remaining sections of the former Little Venice attraction despite extensive work being carried out on the building over a number of years. As the project develops there will be further excavation work taking place on the site.
"A pre-planning consultation will be launched later this summer offering residents and businesses the chance to have their say on the more detailed plans as part of the ongoing project consultation."
