Bell Tower, an iconic shopping, dining and entertainment destination located in the center of Fort Myers, announced the addition of Island Octopus, a retail boutique featuring water art, clothing, coloring books , handmade incense and beach-themed gifts. The new 1,285 square foot Island Octopus is set to open March 11 next to Ice Spot (near Dave & Buster’s).

“Island Octopus is a fun local retailer that offers a creative range of beach-themed offerings that our shoppers are sure to enjoy,” says Samantha Lillard, assistant vice president of Madison Marquette, the real estate investor, developer and provider of services that owns the mall. “In mid-March, we will also celebrate the opening of global fashion powerhouse Claire’s, news that clearly shows that Bell Tower is growing rapidly with branded retailers and local boutiques, bringing a wealth of experiences from shopping, dining and entertainment to our guests.”

Island Octopus was founded by local husband-wife team Matt and Melissa Gindling. The location of the Bell Tower store marks the famous brand’s first foray online into the world of brick and mortar and makes the couple’s quirky, handcrafted products more accessible to the local Fort Myers community in which they live and working. The couple’s artistic journey began in 2011 when they began creating unique artwork, books, incense and other products. After opening their new location in the Bell Tower, they plan to expand their beach-themed product line to include tropical flora and fauna-themed artwork as well as new blends of incense.

The addition of Island Octopus marks the continued expansion of retail offerings at Bell Tower, which includes recent additions such as Claire’s, women’s clothing boutique Subtle and Chic, fresh dog treat creator Three Dog Bakery, artwork retailer Art the Wall, homemade ice cream shop Happy Scoop Ice Cream, restaurants Burntwood Tavern and Matinique Bakery Café, indoor cycling experience CycleBar and most recently fitness studio and Dance Residence. ¦