Goodbye, now-demolished and long-vacant Sears building. Hello to a fresh mixed-use development at Ann Arbor’s Briarwood Mall that owner Simon Property Group of Indianapolis describes as transformative, with new retail and dining options, an outdoor plaza, housing, and plans for a hotel.
“The redevelopment is going to include quite a bit: a curated collection of highly sought-after retail brands, dining, and entertainment options,” says Simon Property Group General Manager Erica Chappell. “There’s a grocery component—Harvest Market—which is an employee-owned business that focuses on connecting consumers back to the land. [It will] have a full-service restaurant, deli, bakery, and [its staff will] even churn their own fresh butter on-site.” Harvest Market is slated for an April opening.
The other key component, Chappell says, is the outdoor plaza. At 40,000 square feet, it will be directly next to Harvest Market and connect to the mall. “We’re excited about the open-air courtyard, which will feature an inviting green space and flexible gathering zones designed for community programming,” she says. Chappell says the plaza will be available for private group gatherings, and more information will be provided as the project progresses. Five hotels currently operate on Briarwood’s perimeter, with more nearby on State Street.
“Our goal is to connect with organizations in terms of hosting meetings and events in Ann Arbor,” she says. “They will find Briar-wood Mall is convenient. … Harvest Market and other options are ideal for meals and postmeeting activities.”
Separately, the University of Michigan is eyeing the construction of a hotel and conference center on its North Campus as part of its “Campus Plan 2050.” Chad Wiebesick, director of media relations and special projects at Destination Ann Arbor, says, “The project remains a longer-term initiative, with more clarity expected sometime [this spring].”
