Twelve Oaks' expansion in Novi attracts stores, despite slow pace in retail construction

by Carol Marshall
MLive.com

Nearly a year after opening the 97,000-square-foot expansion of Twelve Oaks Mall, the shopping center is experiencing continued positive leasing activity.

Growth is particularly strong in the food category. In August, California Pizza Kitchen opened a location in Twelve Oaks, and Mrs. Field's Cookies will open there this fall.

Twelve Oaks also reports success in men's and women's apparel, which nationwide has struggled. Clothing retailers Freaky Tiki and Club Monaco have joined the ranks of Twelve Oaks' retail lineup of nearly 200 stores.

At the same time, few tenants are leaving the Taubman Centers-owned mall, said Twelve Oaks General Manager Dan Jones.

"We have had some tenants leave, but the big ones were a part of national closings, and unrelated to the Michigan market or Michigan economy. We lost Disney and Sharper Image, but that was nationwide. Other than that, there have only been a few closures, and a few in the food court, and smaller stores, which were a little less impactful in terms of long-term leases and big brand names," Jones said. "We've certainly introduced a lot more permanent merchants."

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