San Marco Plaza: Its day has come

Venetian architecture at San Marco Plaza. (Photo by Jim Jones)

Plans for San Marco Plaza were first announced in early 2004.

 "Three restaurants -- two of them Italian -- and two art galleries, along with other shops and a movie house have all expressed interest in joining San Marco Plaza. The movie house ... would feature more artsy and foreign films, " according to Herald archives.

Also planned was a move of the Golden Apple Dinner Theater into San Marco Plaza.

Those initial plans either failed to materialize or didn't work out.

Things were complicated by a meltdown of the economy and some of the investors going into default.

It's been a tough slog, but there is reason for optimism among the business survivors at San Marco Plaza, and  several new businesses that are set to join the mix.

For more, see Friday's Lakewood Ranch Herald.