On Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, a taiko drumming performance opened the dedication of Sakura Gardens, a pond with a walking path that connects the residences at Sakura Novi to its shops and restaurants. Earlier that day, Paris Baguette held its grand opening at the same address. At the time, the bakery was the main reason to stop by.
One year later, the development on Grand River lists eight businesses as partners. Every opening covered a different part of the day, and by this fall the combined hours stretch from early breakfast to well after dinner. That matters in November, when the City of Novi and the Novi Public Library hold three free events on a Thursday, a Saturday and a Friday. Sakura Novi has something open before or after each of them.
Eight Openings, in Order
"The inspiration [for Sakura Gardens] was a community gathering place that we felt that downtown Novi needed," Phil Kim, one of Sakura Novi's owners, told Hour Detroit at the dedication. Here is how that gathering place filled in:
- Klawsome!, a claw-machine arcade, was scheduled to open Aug. 29, 2025, a few weeks before the garden, according to Hometown Life.
- Paris Baguette, a South Korean bakery chain with French-inspired pastries, opened Oct. 23, 2025.
- Chubby Cattle Wagyu Shabu House, an all-you-can-eat hot-pot restaurant billed as Michigan's first, was set to open Nov. 6, 2025.
- BOOKOFF, the Japanese secondhand retailer that sells books, games and collectibles, had opened by spring 2026, according to Axios Detroit.
- TESO Life, an Asian-themed department store with beauty products, collectibles, snacks and drinks, opened May 15, 2026.
- Cloud Boba opened its bubble-tea counter the same day.
- The Dancing Pine, a Korean steakhouse, started full-service dining in June after a soft opening, the Detroit Free Press reported.
- Sumo Japanese Grill, a 1,403-square-foot hibachi counter at 42658 Grand River Ave., opened by early September, per DBusiness.
Read in order, the list moves from a bakery and an arcade, which do their business by day, to hot pot and a steakhouse, which do theirs at night. The quick-service hibachi spot came last and covers the hours in between. Chubby Cattle's first anniversary, counted from its planned opening date, falls on Nov. 6, the night after Novi's Diwali Fest.
The Hours Are What Changed
Sakura Novi's opening day gave Novi a morning stop. The current lineup covers almost every hour a November event might take:
| Business | What it serves | Posted hours |
|---|---|---|
| Paris Baguette | Bakery-café | 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily |
| Sumo Japanese Grill | Quick-service hibachi | 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Mon.–Sat.; 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sun. |
| Chubby Cattle | All-you-can-eat shabu | Noon to 10 p.m. Sun.–Thu.; noon to 10:30 p.m. Fri.–Sat. |
| The Dancing Pine | Korean steakhouse | 4 to 10 p.m. Tue.–Sun., per Michigan Mama News in July |
The bakery's hours come from the Paris Baguette Novi page, and the shabu hours from Chubby Cattle's Novi page. The Dancing Pine's hours come from Michigan Mama News coverage of its opening, and its official site lists an address but no hours, so call ahead before planning a dinner around the 4 p.m. opening. Hours shift with the seasons, especially around the holidays.
Three of the four are open past 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Paris Baguette, Chubby Cattle and The Dancing Pine all serve until at least 10 p.m. on each of the three event nights.
Three November Dates, and What Is Open Around Each
Thursday, Nov. 5: Diwali Fest at Novi Civic Center
The City of Novi's 2026 Diwali Fest flyer lists 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Novi Civic Center. Food, vendors and performances run the whole evening. The Mayor of Novi leads a lamp-lighting ceremony at 5:45 p.m., cultural performances begin at 6:30 p.m. with an opening dance by the City of Novi "Leaders of Light," and fireworks start at 8:15 p.m. LittleGuide Detroit lists admission as free and describes Indian restaurant food plus craft vendors selling jewelry, clothing and henna art. The city's Diwali Fest page has more, and vendor and performer applications for this year are closed.
Fireworks end around 8:30 on a Thursday. Chubby Cattle and The Dancing Pine both serve until 10 p.m. that night, and Paris Baguette is open until 10 p.m. if the evening calls for a pastry instead of a meal.
Saturday, Nov. 7: Japanese Yokai Festival at the Library
Two days later, the Novi Public Library calendar lists an all-ages Japanese Yokai Festival from 2 to 5 p.m. on the library's first floor. The library describes yokai as "supernatural beings from Japanese folklore," some of which "inhabit everyday objects, some are mimics, and some even resemble humans."
This is the date where Sakura Novi lines up most directly. BOOKOFF's Japanese books, games and collectibles carry the afternoon's theme into the shop aisles. Sumo's hibachi counter and Cloud Boba cover the late afternoon, and The Dancing Pine opens at 4 p.m., an hour before the festival ends.
Friday, Nov. 20: Light the Lights at Fountain Walk
The city's holiday kickoff is at a different spot. The Light the Lights page lists Friday, Nov. 20, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Twelve Mile Crossing at Fountain Walk, with fireworks and the tree lighting at 7 p.m. Admission is free. The evening includes visits with Santa, live music, character meet-and-greets, free train rides, a Letters to Santa station and a make-your-own stuffed animal table run by The Bear Factory, which costs extra.
Fountain Walk has its own food lineup that night. Fuller Farms sells cider, donuts and hot apple cider. The Fountain Walk businesses the city lists include Beerhead Bar & Eatery, Blackrock Bar & Grill, Buddy's Pizza, Buffalo Wild Wings, Cold Stone Creamery, Ford's Garage, The HUB Stadium, KPOT Hot Pot & Barbecue, Kung Fu Tea, Meat Moot Smoking and Sai Gon Pho. On this one date, Sakura Novi fits after the event more than before it. Light the Lights ends at 9 p.m., and Chubby Cattle stays open until 10:30 p.m. on Fridays.
What the Garden Is Still Growing Into
Some of what was promised at last year's dedication is still in progress. Hour Detroit reported that the pond path "will eventually be dotted with mature cherry trees and a playground." Axios Detroit identified a playground on site during its April 2026 visit. The cherry trees the development is named for remain a future addition. Novi's own development tracker, updated Sept. 15, 2026, still lists Sakura Novi as under construction overall, even with eight partners operating.
Owner Scott Aikens pointed to the details already in place in Hour Detroit's coverage: "there's the Sakura panel on the front that lights at night. And the entry sign with the bronze Sakura character is particularly beautiful." Since November evenings get dark early, that lit panel is visible on Grand River before any of the three events start.
The Sakura panel is lit, the pond path runs from the residences to the restaurants, and Diwali Fest is a week from today at Novi Civic Center.
A year of openings on Grand River comes up in pricing conversations about the homes nearby. If you own nearby and want to know how this past year of openings shows up in your home's value, Nicolas Petrucci Properties can walk you through it. Request a Complimentary Home Valuation.
