Madison Marquette, a premier retail solutions provider, is pleased to announce the redevelopment of Bell Tower Shops, planned, designed and executed using the company’s proprietary value creation tool, The Playbook. Upon completion, Bell Tower Shops will be a modern lifestyle destination for the next generation of residents and visitors to Southwest Florida. The redevelopment brings a next generation branding, activation and new-to-market leasing to the project – efforts which will double the restaurant GLA and secured a 40,000 SF Dave & Buster’s.
Madison’s Playbook features a comprehensive vision for center development that defines the experience evolution, delivering a restaurant, retail and services mix today’s customer demands. With an activation strategy designed to create a consistent flow of community activity by leveraging local artists, food trucks, music performances and family-friendly events, Bell Tower will organically build on the existing retail footprint, using communal spaces to host ongoing local engagement. The leasing plan recognizes the need to attract national retailers with commitment to experiential, as well as local brands that provide exclusive new-to-market concepts not found elsewhere.
Dave and Buster’s, the Dallas-based restaurant, sports bar, and arcade complex, will occupy key center space formerly occupied by a Saks Fifth Avenue, which vacated Bell Tower in 2016. This is the chain’s first location in Southwest Florida, and the selection of Bell Tower Shops reflects the recent economic growth in the Fort Myers, Florida market. As of March 2018, Dave & Buster’s had 110 locations in North America.
“Today’s shopping centers have evolved their offerings, and the redevelopment of Bell Tower Shops is a great example of the synergy that retail, entertainment, and dining create to achieve an energetic environment that meets the ever-changing demands of today’s consumers,” said Whitney Livingston, Senior Vice President, Management Services for Madison Marquette. “The reimagined project will be a modern day town square designed to attract and retain customers more frequently and for a longer duration. This 18-hour a day experience features a carefully curated merchandising mix including boutique fitness, lifestyle and necessity services, grocery and home goods, as well as a variety of restaurants and entertainment venues all in one accessible location.”
Architectural enhancements include expanded entrances to improve visibility from Fort Myers’ two busiest roads as well as storefront redesigns, and new pedestrian and vehicular wayfinding signage. In addition, the 365,000-square-foot, open-air promenade shopping center will feature exterior finishes that include new landscaping and lighting to reflect a more contemporary look, as well as new common areas to create natural gathering spaces.
Fort Myer’s Florida (recently ranked the fastest growing city for population and job growth in 2017 by Forbes), is experiencing a resurgence of growth since the 2008 recession. Situated at the corner of Daniels Parkway and U.S. 41 in a market that has grown 75% since 2012, Bell Tower has both benefited and restructured to meet the demands and opportunities of new market trends over the last five years, including the $3 billion in annual visitor spending in Fort Myers.
About Bell Tower Shops
Bell Tower Shops is the premier dining, fashion and lifestyle destination of the Fort Myers-Cape Coral market. Bell Tower is home to an elevated merchandising mix, complete with signature retailers, dining and entertainment, specialty fitness and lifestyle services including The Fresh Market, Bed Bath & Beyond and a 20-screen Regal Cinema complex. Exceptional specialty retailers and restaurants include: World of Beer, Cru, Bistro 41, White House Black Market, Chico’s, Bath & Body Works, Anchored Boutique, Francesca’s Collection, Ulta, Williams-Sonoma and more. Visit www.thebelltowershops.com for a complete listing and a calendar of special events.
About Madison Marquette
Madison Marquette is a leading private real estate investment manager, developer, operator and service provider headquartered in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1992, the company’s reputation is built on the successful development, repositioning and redevelopment of commercial mixed-use assets in major gateway and emerging high-growth markets throughout the United States. Madison Marquette partners with global institutional and private investors to achieve industry-leading investment performance across asset classes. In addition, the firm provides integrated management and leasing services to many of the most sophisticated institutional owners in the industry. On behalf of owners and investors, Madison Marquette provides insight, and innovative incorporation of retail, that results in high-performing and unique real estate destinations that add long-term value to their communities. Current high-profile projects include The Wharf in Washington, D.C., the redevelopment of the Asbury Park waterfront in New Jersey and Pacific Place in Seattle, WA. The firm covers major U.S. markets through its primary offices in Washington, D.C., New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle and Fort Lauderdale. Madison Marquette is a member of the Capital Guidance global group of companies. For more information, visit the company website at www.MadisonMarquette.com.
