Almost two years since first breaking ground, Sakura Novi’s first retailer, Klawsome!, is set to open Friday, August 29. The claw machine-themed arcade is billed as the first of its kind in Michigan, and features over 40 unique machines filled with stuffed toys and novelty items for visitors to win.
After seeing how much joy winning a bag of stuffed plushies brought their children on a family trip to Las Vegas, founders Agnes and Michal Filipowski decided to bring the fun to their community back home, according to a press release.
The couple lived in South Korea for three years and traveled around Southeast Asia, where they sought out clawcades wherever they went, according to the Klawsome! website. Since then, clawcades have grown in popularity around North America, with arcades popping up in cities like Chicago, New York City, and Toronto. And now metro Detroit can be counted amongst that growing list.
The Filipowskis see Klawsome! as a gathering place for families and friends to make memories and spend time together. Agnes, a Filipino American, is passionate about bringing a piece of Asian arcade culture to Novi. And where better to bring that passion to than Michigan’s first Asian-themed mixed-use development?
Offering a collection of retailers, restaurants, and residences, Sakura Novi is looking to create a walkable downtown hub inspired by Asian cultures and designs. The development will feature multiple dining options, like an all-you-can-eat Wagyu shabu-shabu, a Korean steakhouse, and a French Asian fusion bakery. Sakura Novi recently announced the addition of Book Off, Japan’s largest second-hand bookstore to the campus, which marks the chain’s first Midwest location.
In a press release, Sakura Novi owner Phillip Kim expressed his excitement about the recent additions to the development.
“With the addition of Klawsome!, Book Off, Teso Life, Paris Baguette and many more incredible restaurants and retailers on the way, guests will soon see this campus transform into a cultural and culinary destination unlike anywhere else in the state,” Kim said in the release.
|
|
|
|
|
|
