A planned upscale retail and residential development in Commerce Township could become a blueprint for how to build an all-new suburban shopping district in an age when more consumers are shopping online.
The concept doubles down on food offerings and lifestyle services, such as yoga studios and dog grooming, and goes much lighter on traditional retail storefronts.
But first, the ambitious $100 million-plus project must land enough leasing commitments to get built. That will require convincing a range of businesses to commit to a new location, even as stores in existing shopping centers – under pressure from Amazon.com and other e-commerce competitors – keep closing shop.
The project, called Five & Main, would be situated on 42 acres of vacant land along Pontiac Trail Road, between Martin Parkway and a Walmart store. It would be about a 20-minute drive from Twelve Oaks Mall in Novi.
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