Iconic retail center dishing out change in taste

With its renovation nearly complete, the evolution of the iconic 343,000-square-foot Bell Tower Shops open-air retail center in Fort Myers continues with a decided shift from white linen-dining to more casual fare and ambience. 

Dave & Buster’s recently opened its new, 40,000-square-foot restaurant there — in the shuttered Saks Fifth Avenue location, which had been there since 1996 and closed in 2016. The new Dave & Buster’s marks the chain’s eighth dining, arcade and sports bar location in Florida and 126th overall. In addition, Burntwood Tavern, a casual American restaurant known for its rustic decor and signature copper-topped bars, is scheduled to open in fall 2019.