Photo Caption: Michal and Agnes Filipowski stand outside of their new store, Klawsome! located in the Sakura Novi development.
Michigan’s first Asian-themed mixed-use development introduces Klawsome! and the 2025 arrival of Book Off alongside a growing roster of restaurants, retailers, and residences.
Novi, MI – August 2025 -The long-anticipated Sakura Novi development is thrilled to announce the opening of their first retailer, Klawsome! at their outdoor mall. Klawsome!, Michigan’s first stand-alone claw machine arcade, will debut this weekend at 42768 Grand River Ave., Ste. C-140. They will be open with limited hours from 3:00 pm-9:00 pm on Friday, August 29, Saturday, August 30, and Sunday, August 31 and closed on Monday, September 1 in observance of the holiday. Additionally, Sakura Novi is excited to announce the arrival of Book Off, Japan’s largest chain of secondhand books and pop culture items, which is set to open this Winter.
Sakura Novi is Michigan’s first Asian-themed mixed-development, combining a curated collection of restaurants, retailers, and residences. The development will also feature a Japanese-inspired garden patio, landscaped pond, cherry blossom gardens, and a public plaza for community events. The following businesses, along with Sakura Novi’s park amenities, will have staggered openings starting in September.
Scott Aikens, Owner of Sakura Nov,i stated, “Klawsome! marks the start of something truly unique for Michigan. As the first retailer to open at Sakura Novi, they set the tone for the family-driven concept that captures fun, community spirit, and cultural excitement that we want to deliver here.”
In addition to Klawsome! the campus will feature:
- Book Off, Japan’s largest secondhand chain specializing in books, toys, manga, anime-related items, video games and consoles, vinyl records, CDs, DVDs, and collectibles. Founded in 1991, it has grown to more than 850 stores in Japan and 19 in the United States, with this location marking the first in the Midwest.
- Residences at Sakura Novi by Robertson Homes – Luxury Townhome community that includes 117 three-story residences ranging from 1,331 to 1,765 square feet with 2-3 bedrooms, 1-2 car garages, and modern amenities. Residences are currently being occupied.
- Teso Life – Japanese-themed department store and anchor tenant is making its way into Michigan while specializing in snacks, cosmetics, homeware, kitchenware, stationery, toys, collectibles, and more.
- Paris Baguette – Number one bakery in South Korea with over 4,000 stores worldwide, making this the third Michigan location. They offer French and Asian pastries, cakes, sandwiches, and coffee.
- Mikiya Wagyu Shabu House by the Chubby Cattle Group – Providing all-you-can-eat Wagyu Shabu from one of the fastest growing premier Wagyu restaurants in the country.
- Dancing Pine Korean Steak House – Anchor restaurant tenant set to serve Korean steakhouse food, Korean BBQ, and specialty sharable dishes called “ban-chan”.
- Presotea Taiwanese Tea Shop – Taiwan’s number one fresh tea brand, known for brewing tea essence through espresso machines for made-to-order drinks.
Sakura Novi Welcome Klawsome!
This Friday, Sakura Novi welcomes the first retailer to the center. Klawsome! will bring a colorful, interactive experience to Novi with rows of claw machines filled with “Kawaii-style” plushies – including cute, pastel-colored characters with expressive eyes and sweet smiles. In addition to constantly rotating prize inventory and exclusive seasonal merchandise, Klawsome! offers a trade-up system, allowing players to swap smaller plushies for larger or rarer prizes such as anime figurines or life-sized plush characters. Each visit becomes a treasure hunt, where the more you play, the bigger the reward.
Claw machine arcades, or “clawcades” have grown increasingly popular across Asia and in major North American cities like Las Vegas, New York City, and Toronto. Klawsome! brings that excitement to Michigan with a bright, welcoming space complete with selfie walls for guests to capture and share their wins and experiences.
The family-owned business was founded by Novi residents Michal (Novi High School alum) and Agnes Filipowski. Inspiration struck in 2023, when the couple, along with their three young children, visited a clawcade during a family vacation to Las Vegas. “Seeing the joy our kids felt when winning plushies gave us the vision to bring that same experience to our community in Novi,” the Filipowski’s said.
Their children play an important role in shaping Klawsome!
– from helping pick out the plushies to inspiring the three animals in the arcade’s logo (clever fox, cuddly panda, and the “party animal” cat in the hat) based on each of their personalities. Even the name pays tribute to their heritage, with the “K” in Klawsome! reflecting the Filipino alphabet.
Klawsome! will be open for events, and fun family outings and date nights! More information, including regular store business hours, can be found at www.KlawsomeNovi.com.
Phillip Kim, Owner of Sakura Novi shared, “With the addition of Klawsome!, Book Off, Teso Life, Paris Baguette and many more incredible restaurants and retailers on the way, guests will soon see this campus transform into a cultural and culinary destination unlike anywhere else in the state.”
To learn more about the amenities, residences, retailers, and restaurants at Sakura Novi visit www.SakuraNovi.com.
About Sakura Novi
Sakura Novi, LLC, an affiliate of Robert B. Aikens & Associates, LLC, specializes in cultural retail and restaurant collections, living spaces, impactful architectural forms and public spaces to create environments where people can connect with community, enjoy themselves, and breathe more easily. Learn more by visiting www.SakuraNovi.com and follow @SakuraNovi on Facebook and @SakuraNoviMI on Instagram.