Twelve Mile Crossing at Fountain Walk

Twelve Mile Crossing at Fountain Walk is an open-air lifestyle center in Novi, Michigan, a Detroit suburb. The complex is located across from the super-regional Twelve Oaks Mall and combines big-box retail, entertainment, restaurants, and leisure uses rather than operating as a traditional enclosed shopping mall. Its principal retail offer has included Dick's Sporting Goods and Floor & Decor, while entertainment uses have included an 18-screen Emagine movie theater and a game room formerly associated with Lucky Strike. The project was initially developed under the Fountain Walk name. Development was delayed after two proposed anchor concepts, Jillian's and a movie theater, were canceled. Construction began in late 2001, with PLC Novi West working with Detroit-area developers Taubman Centers and Ramco-Gershenson. Schostak Corporation was subsequently hired as leasing agent. The first stores to open were Galyan's Trading Company and The Great Indoors; the remainder of the center opened to the public about a year later. The center's history has been shaped by tenant turnover, redevelopment, and changes in the large-format retail sector. Galyan's was acquired by Dick's Sporting Goods in 2004, resulting in the conversion of the Galyan's store to a Dick's Sporting Goods location. The Great Indoors, a Sears-owned home-improvement format, later closed as Sears discontinued the chain. Its Fountain Walk location was converted into a Sears Outlet store, which itself closed on August 14, 2019. Floor & Decor subsequently occupied the vacated space. Fountain Walk also underwent significant physical changes. Approximately 60,000 square feet of space was demolished and redeveloped in 2006. Another substantial portion, including the building occupied by Modern Skate & Surf, was demolished in July 2008. The center was renamed Twelve Mile Crossing at Fountain Walk as redevelopment proceeded. Additional large-format uses, including a Powerhouse Gym, were introduced, and a central portion of the complex was demolished or converted as the property was reshaped for new tenants. Access and visibility have been recurring challenges. The center is surrounded by Twelve Mile Road, Novi Road, and Interstate 96, but it does not have strong visibility from those major routes. This access profile has been cited as a factor limiting growth. The property was reported to have been no more than approximately 70 percent leased since opening, and several major tenants closed or relocated over time. Developers also presented the City of Novi with plans for additional multi-tenant buildings and a large retail or supermarket space behind Dick's Sporting Goods. The available reference material does not establish whether all of those proposed elements were completed. The developers filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2004, adding financial pressure during the center's early operating period. Despite these difficulties and repeated tenant changes, the property has continued as a retail and entertainment destination, anchored in the available description by Dick's Sporting Goods and Floor & Decor and supplemented by cinema, fitness, dining, and other commercial uses.

Twelve Mile Crossing at Fountain Walk began as Fountain Walk, an open-air retail project in Novi, Michigan, positioned across from Twelve Oaks Mall. The development experienced delays before construction started in late 2001. Two proposed anchor concepts, Jillian's and a movie theater, were canceled during the planning period. PLC Novi West, the project's owner, initially worked with Taubman Centers and Ramco-Gershenson, both Detroit-area development companies. Schostak Corporation later became involved as leasing agent. The first stores to open were Galyan's Trading Company and The Great Indoors. The balance of the center opened approximately one year later. Rather than following a conventional enclosed-mall model, the project combined large-format retail with restaurants and entertainment. Later additions and renovations included Emagine Novi, an 18-screen cinema, and a game room known as Lucky Strike. The center faced persistent leasing and access challenges. Its location is surrounded by Twelve Mile Road, Novi Road, and Interstate 96, but the property reportedly has limited visibility from each of those major transportation corridors. This lack of direct visual exposure was cited as one factor restricting the center's growth. Reported occupancy did not exceed approximately 70 percent after opening, and several prominent tenants subsequently closed, moved, or were replaced. Corporate changes among tenants materially altered the property. In 2004, Dick's Sporting Goods acquired Galyan's Trading Company, and the Galyan's store at the center was rebranded as Dick's Sporting Goods. That same year, the developers filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The property then entered a period of physical redevelopment and tenant repositioning. Approximately 60,000 square feet was demolished and redeveloped in 2006. Another major demolition occurred in July 2008, when a section containing Modern Skate & Surf was removed. Modern Skate & Surf had announced that it was moving because the landlord was remodeling the center and its building would be torn down. The property was renamed Twelve Mile Crossing at Fountain Walk during this broader redevelopment phase. New big-box and service uses were introduced, including a Powerhouse Gym. The central portion of the complex was also demolished or converted, with a large amount of retail space repurposed for gym use. Tenant turnover continued. Cost Plus World Market announced in April 2008 that it would close all of its Detroit-area stores. After Sears discontinued The Great Indoors format, the former store was converted to a Sears Outlet. The Sears Outlet location closed on August 14, 2019, and Floor & Decor later moved into the space. The available reference material identifies Dick's Sporting Goods and Floor & Decor as anchor stores and describes the center as continuing to include cinema, entertainment, and restaurants. Developers also presented Novi officials with plans for additional multi-tenant buildings and a large retail or supermarket space behind Dick's Sporting Goods. The available sources do not confirm the complete execution of those plans. Overall, the center's history is characterized by an ambitious open-air retail concept, delayed construction, early financial distress, repeated demolition and rebuilding, and continuing adaptation to changes in big-box retail and local shopping patterns.

• 2019

  Sears Outlet closes

  [1]Twelve Mile Crossing at Fountain Walken.wikipedia.org

  The Sears Outlet store closed on August 14, 2019; Floor & Decor subsequently occupied the former store space.

• 2008

  Further redevelopment and renaming

  [1]Twelve Mile Crossing at Fountain Walken.wikipedia.org

  A large portion of the property, including the Modern Skate & Surf building, was demolished, and the center adopted the Twelve Mile Crossing at Fountain Walk name.

• 2006

  First major demolition and redevelopment

  [1]Twelve Mile Crossing at Fountain Walken.wikipedia.org

  About 60,000 square feet of the center was demolished and redeveloped.

• 2004

  Galyan's becomes Dick's Sporting Goods

  [1]Twelve Mile Crossing at Fountain Walken.wikipedia.org

  Dick's Sporting Goods acquired Galyan's, leading to the rebranding of the center's Galyan's store.

• 2004

  Developer bankruptcy filing

  [1]Twelve Mile Crossing at Fountain Walken.wikipedia.org

  The developers filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy during the center's early operating period.

• 2002

  Initial stores open

  [1]Twelve Mile Crossing at Fountain Walken.wikipedia.org

  Galyan's Trading Company and The Great Indoors became the first stores to open, followed by the rest of the center about a year later.

• 2001

  Construction begins

  [1]Twelve Mile Crossing at Fountain Walken.wikipedia.org

  Construction of the project, then known as Fountain Walk, began in late 2001 after delays and the cancellation of two proposed anchor concepts.

An open-air, large-format retail and entertainment destination serving Novi and the wider Detroit metropolitan area. Its tenant mix emphasizes destination retailers, leisure uses, dining, and big-box formats rather than enclosed-mall department-store shopping.

• Sporting goods anchor · 2004

  Dick's Sporting Goods

  A major sporting-goods anchor offering athletic equipment, apparel, footwear, and related outdoor and recreational merchandise. The location originated as Galyan's Trading Company and was rebranded after Dick's acquired the Galyan's chain in 2004.

• Home-improvement anchor

  Floor & Decor

  A large-format flooring and home-improvement retailer that moved into the former Sears Outlet space after that store closed. Its presence represents the center's continued reliance on destination-oriented big-box retail.

• Cinema and entertainment

  Emagine Novi

  An 18-screen movie theater added through renovations and redevelopment. The cinema expanded the center's role beyond shopping by providing a destination entertainment use.

• Game room and leisure

  Lucky Strike

  A game-room entertainment concept associated with the center's later entertainment additions. The available reference material does not specify its current operating status.

• Fitness

  Powerhouse Gym

  A gym use added during redevelopment as portions of the original retail space were reconfigured. The available reference material does not confirm its current operating status.

• 2019

  Replace the Sears Outlet tenantOther

  Background

  Sears Outlet closed its Fountain Walk store on August 14, 2019.

  Action taken

  Floor & Decor subsequently moved into the vacated store space.

  Aftermath

  The replacement reinforced the center's emphasis on destination-oriented home-improvement retail.

  Source

• 2008

  Rename and further restructure the propertyStrategy

  Background

  Redevelopment continued amid tenant closures and the departure of Modern Skate & Surf.

  Action taken

  A further section of the center was demolished, and the property was renamed Twelve Mile Crossing at Fountain Walk.

  Aftermath

  The revised center incorporated additional big-box, fitness, entertainment, and restaurant-oriented uses.

  Source

• 2006

  Redevelop part of the centerStrategy

  Background

  The property had experienced leasing and access challenges and needed to adjust its physical layout and tenant mix.

  Action taken

  Approximately 60,000 square feet was demolished and redeveloped, with additional large-format uses planned or added.

  Aftermath

  The center continued to evolve through further demolition, tenant replacement, and conversion of retail space to other uses.

  Source

• 2004

  Rebrand the Galyan's anchor as Dick's Sporting GoodsM&A

  Background

  Dick's Sporting Goods acquired the Galyan's chain, including the Fountain Walk store.

  Action taken

  The Galyan's location was converted to a Dick's Sporting Goods store.

  Aftermath

  Dick's Sporting Goods became one of the center's principal anchor tenants.

  Source

• 2001

  Proceed with an open-air lifestyle-center formatStrategy

  Background

  The project was planned as an open-air retail and entertainment complex in a market containing a major enclosed mall across the street.

  Action taken

  PLC Novi West proceeded with Fountain Walk after delays and the cancellation of proposed Jillian's and movie-theater anchors.

  Aftermath

  Construction began in late 2001, but the property later faced limited visibility, leasing difficulties, and repeated tenant turnover.

  Source

1. 1Twelve Mile Crossing at Fountain Walken.wikipedia.org