FeedsBest Buy submits plan for new Ford Road location
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The lions that adorn the outside of the Roman Forum might relinquish their den to Best Buy.Developers officially submitted site plans Thursday that put the future of the Roman Forum and other Ford Road establishments in question.
“Now that they (submitted plans) it’s pretty obvious that that parcel is part of this project,” said Township Supervisor Tom Yack.
The “Canton Retail Center” is slated for a 3.6 acre site on Ford west of Haggerty. In addition to the Roman Forum, the site currently includes the Carousel Antiques building and a small office and retail center.
According to the plan, a 45,252 square-foot Best Buy retail store would occupy the site with an attached 10,000 retail parcel and a drive-through coffee shop closer to the road.
Anthony Gatto, owner of Roman Forum, said Friday what he has maintained for months—that nothing is for certain.
“This has been going on for two years,” he said about speculation over the center. “We’re just taking it as it comes. If they get all the approvals from the (township) that they need and they offer us enough money, then it will be a deal.”
Canton planning staff are conducting the initial review of the plans this week, though Best Buy probably won’t appear at a public meeting about the project until at least August, said Community Planner Jeff Goulet.
Gatto said he has talked to the developer, but he hasn’t sold his restaurant or made any plans to close up.
“They haven’t given us a written offer,” he said. “We have no money, we have no contract. We’re carrying on business as usual until somebody pays us.”
Business as usual has been going on at the Roman Forum since the restaurant first opened in the fall of 1976. As the community grew up around it, the restaurant became a landmark and one of the best-known eateries around. It still serves as the meeting place for community groups such as the Canton Rotary Club.
Asked if he would move his restaurant elsewhere if he sold the Ford Road property, Gatto said, “That’s an idea. I don’t know if we would ever do it. It’s been considered.”
Gatto said he remains skeptical about the plans.
“It’s an expensive project for this size piece of property,” he said.
Yack said that despite tough times for Michigan and a slumping housing market, retail is as strong as ever on Michigan Avenue and Ford Road.
Wal-Mart received final approval from the board of trustees for a store at Michigan and Belleville Road last week. A major center that will include Target, Old Navy and Kohl’s is under construction at Michigan and Beck. An assortment of banks, drug stores and other smaller retail centers are either planned or already begun.
Borders is constructing a new store on Ford Road where commercial property values have risen since Ikea announced its store near Haggerty in 2005.
That’s about the time that rumors of a major electronics retailer surfaced here.
“The land certainly is very valuable,” said Kathleen Salla, coordinator for the Canton Downtown Development Authority.
This year Gatto’s property had a state equalized value of $1.2 million, a 12 percent increase from the previous year.
“The retail and commercial development is still zooming along,” said Salla. “I think it’s going to be very welcome here and draw people from surrounding communities to our community.”
Salla said she hopes the restaurant would try to find a new home if everything goes according to Best Buy’s plans.
“Hopefully the businesses that want to continue will relocate in Canton,” she said.
