Novi Town Center
Novi Town Center is an open-air shopping center at the intersection of Novi Road and Grand River Avenue in Novi, Michigan.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Novi Town Center is an open-air shopping center in Novi, Michigan, positioned along Interstate 96 at the intersection of Novi Road and Grand River Avenue. It is part of the commercial concentration that defines Novi's retail district and is located across from Twelve Oaks Mall, one of the region's largest enclosed shopping destinations. The center is associated with a broader mixed commercial and business development that helped establish a recognizable downtown-oriented focal point for Novi during the late twentieth century. The project was developed by Trammell Crow, which undertook the commercial center together with the Lake Pointe Corporate Center on a roughly 150-acre site. Groundbreaking took place in 1986, and the shopping center opened in 1987. At the time of its opening, Novi mayor Patricia Karevich described the development as the beginning of a downtown for the city. Local historical writing has likewise characterized the project as shifting commercial attention back toward an area that had previously served as Novi's main business district. The commercial portion of the development comprised approximately 485,000 square feet. Over time, the property hosted a broad mixture of national retailers, restaurants, services, entertainment businesses, and office-related activity. Its historical tenant mix included Borders, CompUSA, and Mervyn's, as well as an eight-screen movie theater. The theater was initially operated by Goodrich. Beginning in December 2005, management passed to Sonali and Rakesh Gangwani, who introduced daily screenings of Bollywood and other Indian films, giving the venue a distinctive cultural role within the local entertainment market. The center faced financial and occupancy pressure as several major tenants closed. The departures of Borders, CompUSA, and Mervyn's contributed to difficulties that continued into the period ending around 2011. During 2010, the then-owner, General Growth Properties, was in Chapter 7 bankruptcy, adding to uncertainty surrounding the property's future. Redevelopment plans subsequently focused on replacing the former Mervyn's location with a Walmart supercenter and repositioning part of the center's tenant and land-use mix. The redevelopment involved the closure of the movie theater and several other businesses in 2010. The theater was not included in the expansion plans and ultimately did not reopen. It had reportedly operated without paying rent during its final three years. In 2011, the Novi City Council approved the Walmart project through a special land-use permit and preliminary site-plan approval. Walmart opened in 2012 as the 86th Walmart superstore in Michigan. The store occupies approximately 12.8 acres and contains about 152,888 square feet. Novi Town Center therefore represents both a retail development and an urban-commercial landmark in Novi. Its history reflects the evolution of suburban shopping centers from entertainment- and department-store-oriented formats toward redevelopment anchored by large-format retail. The center remains an active commercial property, with ownership identified in reference material as CBRE, although its tenant composition and individual operating businesses may change over time.
History
Novi Town Center emerged from a major commercial development project undertaken in Novi, Michigan, during the 1980s. Trammell Crow developed the approximately 485,000-square-foot commercial component together with the Lake Pointe Corporate Center. The two elements occupied a site of roughly 150 acres and represented one of Trammell Crow's two major Michigan projects at the time. Construction began with groundbreaking in 1986, and the shopping center opened in 1987. The project was significant for Novi because it helped create a concentrated commercial destination in an area that had historically served as one of the city's principal business districts. Patricia Karevich, Novi's mayor when the center opened, characterized the development as the beginning of a downtown for the city. Local historical accounts have similarly described the project as redirecting commercial focus toward what had once been Novi's main business district. The center was designed as an open-air shopping destination with retail, dining, services, and entertainment uses. Its location at Novi Road and Grand River Avenue, near Interstate 96 and across from Twelve Oaks Mall, placed it within one of Metro Detroit's most important retail corridors. The complex historically included an eight-screen movie theater. Goodrich initially managed the theater, but on December 1, 2005, management transferred to Sonali and Rakesh Gangwani. Under their operation, the venue showed Bollywood and other Indian films daily in addition to other programming, broadening its cultural and entertainment role in the community. The property later encountered pressure from changing retail conditions and the loss of major tenants. Borders, CompUSA, and Mervyn's all closed, contributing to financial difficulties that persisted through the period leading to 2011. The situation was compounded in 2010 when General Growth Properties, then the owner, was in Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The departure of Mervyn's created a large vacant location and prompted consideration of a substantial redevelopment anchored by Walmart. Redevelopment plans changed the center's physical and commercial composition. Walmart considered occupying the former Mervyn's site, while the theater and several other businesses closed in 2010. The theater was excluded from the expansion plans and never reopened; reference material also states that it had not paid rent during its final three years of operation. In 2011, Novi's city council approved the Walmart development through a 5–2 vote on a special land-use permit and a 6–1 vote on preliminary site-plan approval. Walmart opened in 2012. The supercenter occupies approximately 12.8 acres and provides about 152,888 square feet of retail space. Its opening was reported as the retailer's 86th superstore in Michigan. The project represented a shift from the center's earlier department-store, specialty-retail, and cinema configuration toward a large-format retail anchor. Novi Town Center remains an active open-air commercial center. Reference material identifies CBRE as its owner, while the site's historical ownership included General Growth Properties during the period of financial difficulty. The center's history illustrates the development and adaptation of suburban retail in Metro Detroit: a late-1980s project intended to help form a civic-commercial downtown, followed by tenant turnover, entertainment closures, financial stress, and redevelopment around a major general-merchandise retailer.
- 2012
Walmart supercenter opens
[1]The Walmart store opens on a 12.8-acre portion of the center and is identified as the retailer's 86th superstore in Michigan.
- 2011
City approvals clear Walmart project
[1]Novi City Council approves the special land-use permit and preliminary site plan needed for Walmart's proposed supercenter.
- 2010
Redevelopment-related closures
[1]The movie theater and several other businesses close as redevelopment plans for the former Mervyn's site move forward.
- 2005
Theater management changes
[1]Sonali and Rakesh Gangwani take over management of the center's eight-screen theater and begin regular screenings of Bollywood and other Indian films.
- 1987
Novi Town Center opens
[1]The approximately 485,000-square-foot open-air commercial center opens in Novi, Michigan.
- 1986
Groundbreaking begins
[1]Construction begins on the Novi Town Center commercial development and the associated Lake Pointe Corporate Center.
Products and positioning
A major open-air suburban shopping center serving Novi and the wider Metro Detroit market, with a tenant mix spanning large-format retail, restaurants, services, and commercial uses.
Retail real estate · 1987
Open-air shopping center
Novi Town Center is a multi-tenant open-air commercial center offering retail stores, restaurants, services, and other businesses. Its location near Interstate 96 and across from Twelve Oaks Mall makes it part of Novi's prominent regional shopping corridor.
General merchandise retail · 2012
Walmart supercenter
The Walmart supercenter developed on the former Mervyn's portion of the property is a large-format general-merchandise store. It occupies approximately 12.8 acres and contains about 152,888 square feet of space.
Entertainment
Eight-screen movie theater
The center historically included an eight-screen cinema. It was first managed by Goodrich and later operated by Sonali and Rakesh Gangwani, who introduced daily Bollywood and other Indian film programming. The theater closed during the 2010 redevelopment and did not reopen.
Brand decisions
2011
Approval of Walmart redevelopmentStrategyBackground
The center had experienced tenant losses and financial pressure, including the closure of Mervyn's, which left a major vacant retail site.
Action taken
Novi City Council approved a special land-use permit by a 5–2 vote and a preliminary site plan by a 6–1 vote, allowing Walmart's proposed supercenter to proceed.
Aftermath
Walmart opened at the site in 2012, while the former theater and several other businesses remained closed as part of the redevelopment.
2010
Closure of theater during redevelopmentStrategyBackground
The historic theater faced redevelopment of the former Mervyn's area and was not included in the expansion plans.
Action taken
The theater and several other businesses closed while the Walmart-related redevelopment advanced.
Aftermath
The theater did not reopen, and the center's entertainment component was reduced as the property shifted toward large-format retail.
Recent events
- 2012
Walmart opens at Novi Town Center[1]
Product launch
A Walmart supercenter opened on a 12.8-acre portion of the shopping center site. The approximately 152,888-square-foot store was reported as Walmart's 86th superstore in Michigan.
- 2011
Novi City Council approves Walmart land-use and preliminary site plans[1]
Other · Product launch
The Novi City Council voted to approve a special land-use permit and preliminary site plan for a Walmart supercenter at the former Mervyn's location within Novi Town Center, enabling the redevelopment to proceed.
- 2010
Movie theater and other businesses close during redevelopment[1]
Other
The former eight-screen theater and several other businesses closed as redevelopment plans connected to the Walmart project advanced. The theater was not included in the expansion and did not subsequently reopen.
- 2010
General Growth Properties enters Chapter 7 bankruptcy during the center's financial difficulties[1]
Bankruptcy · Other
Novi Town Center experienced financial and occupancy challenges during a period marked by the closure of major tenants including Borders, CompUSA, and Mervyn's. The property’s owner at the time, General Growth Properties, was in Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
Sources1 sources
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