Novi had a lot to celebrate on Thursday (Oct. 23) — a new garden and a new bakery. Both are on the grounds Sakura Novi, which is billed as Michigan’s first Asian-themed mixed-use development.
The day started with the grand opening of Paris Baguette, a South Korean chain bakery serving French-inspired pastries.
In the afternoon, there was a dedication ceremony for Sakura Gardens — which includes a pond with a path that winds around it. It will eventually be dotted with mature cherry trees and a playground.
“The inspiration [for Sakura Gardens] was a community gathering place that we felt that downtown Novi needed,” says Phil Kim, one of the owners of Sakura Novi. “And it’s open to the public. We want everyone in the community to enjoy it, and all the food and experiences here.”
Sakura Novi’s other owner, Scott Aikens, is vice chairman of Robert B. Aikens and Associates. The firm created The Village in Rochester Hills, and is currently developing another big project: Five & Main, a retail and lifestyle center in Commerce Township.
“We’ve added a lot of artistic flourishes; there’s the Sakura panel on the front that lights at night. And the entry sign with the bronze Sakura character is particularly beautiful,” Aikens says. “The architecture was really well designed by our team.”
More To Come
Paris Baguette, along with Klawsome! — an all-claw machine arcade that opened in August — will be joined by several more businesses at Sakura Novi in coming months.
In November, national franchise Chubby Cattle is opening Wagyu Shabu House, an all-you-can-eat wagyu restaurant. That will be followed by Teso Life (a Japanese-themed department store chain), Dancing Pine Korean Steak House, and Cloud Boba Tea.
Also set to open is Book Off, Japan’s largest secondhand chain (with 19 U.S. locations) whose offerings include books, toys, manga, anime-related items, video games, consoles, vinyl, CDs, DVDs, and more.
The Residences
Opposite the commercial area, connected by the path around the pond are The Residences at Sakura Novi. Jim Clarke, CEO of Robertson Homes — the developer behind the 117 townhomes — said leasing began in February. The units are now at about 60% occupancy.
“Everyone talks about mixed-use in the way where you have retail on the first floor and apartments over — which is very expensive, because parking is an issue for everyone,” Clarke says.
Clarke describes Sakura Novi, where the residential and commercial areas are separate but adjacent, as “horizontal mixed-use.” He calls this “the smart and the right way to do it.”
The units, which are three stories tall, have two floor plans available for lease. Starting at $2,550 a month, residents can lease a 1,300-square foot townhome with two bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, and a one-car garage. Or, starting at $3,250 a month are the 1,765 square-foot units. These units include three bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, and a two-car garage.
‘Home Away from Home’
Outside of Sakura Novi, the city of Novi is home to a diverse array of Asian-owned restaurants and retailers. Asian Americans living in Novi make up 28% of the city’s population. There’s a significant presence of Japanese residents, as well as Indian and other South Asian communities.
In his prepared speech at the dedication, Aikens said Novi has served as “a critical home away from home for the 15,000-person strong community of Japanese citizens living here, affiliated with global corporations, including Toyota, Nissan, Subaru, Aisin, Denso, and many more.”
He added, “These families and individuals living for a time in Michigan, like so many others, will find delight and comfort at the Sakura Novi.”
A Long Haul
Developing the property took years to come to fruition. Before, it was home to a vacant car wash, among other buildings. City officials first approved the sale of the 10-acre parcel to Sakura Novi, LLC in 2018 for $3.5 million, Hometown Life reported.
In that time, Novi elected a new mayor. Justin Fischer took office in 2023, succeeding Mayor Bob Gatt.
“I’ll admit there was a council member back in the day — yours truly — who may have voted ‘no’ on a few key approvals,” Fischer said in his speech at the dedication. “But sometimes leadership means being willing to admit when you were wrong, and I was wrong. So, to Scott and the entire Sakura team, thank you for proving me wrong.”
But the story goes back further. One interesting detail: an early advocate for the project was the late Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson.
“After [the city] bought this property…almost immediately after that, I get a call from my friend Brooks Patterson saying, ‘You need to do something here. You need to have a Japanese village,’” recalled Novi city council member David Staudt in his speech.
The development cost about $55 million to construct and is estimated to qualify for about $1.25 million in tax abatements through 2029, Aikens tells Hour Detroit.
The Sakura Novi shopping mall is located at 42708 Grand River Ave, Novi. For more information, visit sakuranovi.com
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