A multi-million-dollar new-look Eat Street Markets - with an adventure park geared to national and international tourists - will open in "around five weeks" on a riverside site east of its current home near Hamilton Northside.
The popular market is shifting to let the $400 million Hamilton Northshore development expand along the northern shore of the Brisbane River.
Market entrepreneur Peter Hackworth – who opened the Eat Street Markets in 2013 with former actor John Stainton and one of 1970s television's funny ladies, Jacki McDonald – confirmed the shift was on.
"It's what you will call, a big step up," she said.
However, she politely declined to give any details.
Eat Street Markets traders received three weeks' notice on Monday and told the new markets would open in five weeks.
The new site - with a Las Vegas-styled container park feel - is further along MacArthur Avenue towards the mouth of the river.
It is close to Brisbane's most eastern ferry stop and has more parking spaces than its former home.
The new markets will boost the 8500-square-metre Eat Street Markets site by about one quarter, to about 10,200 square metres.
The colourful Ms Hackworth would not give away the actual location, despite it being published in this article on Brisbane Development.
"It's really not too far away from where we are, dear," Ms Hackworth said.
"But I can't divulge anything yet. It's a bit too soon.
"But we will bring out the publicity machine very, very soon."
The plans lodged with the Queensland Government show a proposed adventure site - within the bigger market site - had 50 to 60 containers connected with bridges and decks with sculptures and games.
Rather than being open two nights in the week, it is proposed to be open up to seven days a week, but vary according to demand.
"It will be quite amazing," Ms Hackworth said.
"The new one will be quite outstanding," she said, but politely declined to answer any questions.
"There's a lot of very new, innovative stuff happening and it is going to be more like a national tourist attraction," she said.
"I would love to tell you, but it is a bit premature.
"And they will kill me," she said with a laugh.
The plans include mazes, abseiling, luge, food venues, bars, outdoor bowling, basketball hoops, a produce garden and possibly a zipline.
Meanwhile, one long-term trader, Jerome Dalton, who has a catering business and several hospitality arms to his business, questioned the policy of the Eat Street Markets operators to keep traders.
Mr Dalton has run an American-style barbecue ribs stall and bar at the East Street Markets for three years.
Ms Dalton said the market managers – Ms Hackworth – asked for $20,000 upfront from the stall owners to secure a site at the new market.
Mr Dalton said he had been told traders were asked for $20,000 "upfront" to move to the new East Street Markets site.
"That's a deposit. No one has a lease or terms, or security or anything.
"It's basically 'hand over some cash, take the risk' and if the markets don't like them they're out and someone else is in," he said.
He said he had paid $1000 rent for two nights trading each week.
He suggested an investigation of new generation market-tenure was needed to protect smaller traders.
Ms Hackworth said Mr Dalton did not apply to move to the new markets and suggested he was too busy with his growing business.
She said she did not discuss money issues publicly.
"I don't handle the finance, dear. I'm the foodie."
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