Mayor Gatt: Walmart Breathed New Life into Novi Town Center

Novi Mayor Bob Gatt said that the in Novi Town Center Wednesday morning is "big for Novi."

Gatt sat down with Novi Director of Communications Sheryl Walsh and store manager Aaron Quimby inside the new Supercenter in the above video made by the city. The three discuss Walmart in the first eight minutes of the video.

Quimby said they have seen a lot of interest in the store already. 

"We've had to turn a lot of people away over the last few days. Just over the weekend the excitement has built with people coming into our parking lot," Quimby said.

Gatt said in the video that "everyone in the city is excited" for the store to open.

Yet, many Novi residents have said they are not happy about the store.

Novi Patch asked readers on its Facebook page if they would shop at the store.

Resident Julie Brown McIntosh said, "I'd rather poke myself in the eye with a sharp stick."

While resident Andrea Schultz said, "Considering going there to see the Opening Day deals, but feeling hypocritical about it, as I'm usually not a Walmart fan. So feeling conflicted about it. Don't plan on going back after that..."

Walsh and Gatt also pointed out that the Walmart has helped boost economic development in .

"This particular business has breathed new life into the shopping center," Gatt said. "Anybody who came up here in the last couple years knows that it was in trouble, it was in trouble. There were a lot of vacancies, there were a lot of empty stores, and this business has changed all that," Gatt said.

Walsh said that the shopping center is predicting to have 95 percent occupancy by end of year.

New stores in the Town Center include:

• ULTA Beauty
• Plato's Closet
• Bath & Body Works
• Rue 21 - opening this month
• Dots - opening this fall

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