A

fter two-and-a-half decades 
at its current location 
in Hunter’s Square in 
Farmington Hills, Marvin’s Marvelous 
Mechanical Museum is finally saying 
goodbye — but not for good.
It isn’t game over just yet for the 
iconic vintage arcade, attraction and 
family hangout that’s served Metro 
Detroit’s Jewish community since its 
initial founding in 1980, when it was 
originally located at Tally Hall. After 
Tally Hall closed, the museum moved 
to Hunter’s Square in 1990.
Now, after struggling to survive 
during COVID-19 and its future up 
in the air amidst plans to demolish a 
portion of Hunter’s Square to build a 
new Meijer supermarket, which would 
include the museum’s 5,300-square-
foot space, it’s game on for the whimsi-
cal and beloved attraction.
Current owner Jeremy Yagoda, son 
of founder and Jewish community 
member Marvin Yagoda, announced 
on Facebook that Marvin’s Marvelous 
Mechanical Museum is set to move to 
West Bloomfield. It will be located in 
Orchard Mall next to Planet Fitness, in 

the former Sav-On Drugs space.

THE NEXT CHAPTER
Nearly triple the size at 14,000 square 
feet, the new space gives the museum 
a chance to grow its reach with sev-
eral private party rooms for birthday 
parties, new games, photo booths 
and, of course, the countless vintage 
collectibles and memorabilia that 
Marvin Yagoda carefully curated over 
the decades. “The Brain” and other 
cherished animatronics aren’t going 
anywhere.
Yet fans of the vibrant and eclec-
tic space have a final chance to drop 
quarters in the vintage machines at the 
Hunter’s Square location, which will 
close its doors for good after Jan. 5.
The business will then take a short 
break as buildout commences at the 
West Bloomfield site, which Yagoda 
hopes will be ready to welcome long-
time guests and new visitors by late 
spring.
“We are so excited to start the 
next chapter for Marvin’s Marvelous 
Mechanical Museum,
” he says. “My 
dad used to say when life gives you 

lemons, make lemonade.
“That’s what we’re doing,
” adds 
Yagoda, who took over the family 
business in 2017 after his father passed 
away. “We’re taking this opportunity to 
expand our marvelous museum.
”
For several years, Metro Detroiters 
eagerly awaited news of the museum’s 
future following a GoFundMe during 
COVID-19 that raised $75,000 to pay 
rent for the building. Most recently, 
54,000 people signed a Change.org 
petition in 2023 to keep the business 
at its Farmington Hills location after it 
was announced that the space was set 
to be demolished for a new Meijer.

RALLYING FOR MARVIN’S
Now, the community is thrilled 
to learn that Marvin’s Marvelous 
Mechanical Museum will live on in 
virtually the same area about a mile 
north of its longtime Hunter’s Square 
storefront.
“I’m so happy that Marvin’s found 
a new home,
” says Marianne Milgrom 
Bloomberg of Farmington Hills, who 
works at Jewish Federation of Detroit. 
“It’s wonderful that it isn’t far from 

their longtime location in Farmington 
Hills. Marvin’s has been a meaningful 
part of my family’s history. I went there 
as a teen and then brought my kids 
there while they were growing up.
”
Now, Milgrom Bloomberg is eager 
to visit the new location with her 
great-nieces and nephews, so they, too, 
“can experience the magic of Marvin’s 
Marvelous Mechanical Museum.
”
NEXTGen Detroit board member 
Sydnie Saltz of Sylvan Lake also has 
fond memories of spending her child-
hood years at Marvin’s Marvelous 
Mechanical Museum.
“It’s a hometown Jewish staple that 
brings childhood memories back to 
life,
” she says. “You go there, and you 
feel like a kid again.
”
Saltz, who frequented the museum 
with her “Bubbie” and “Poppie,
” says 
she “can’t wait for the next generations 
to enjoy it for years to come.
”
Marlee Shifman, marketing manager 
at The J-Detroit, worked at Marvin’s 
Marvelous Mechanical Museum as a 
teenager, where she gained early job 
skills still used today.
“Marvin’s has been a staple in so 
many of our lives,
” she says. “Growing 
up in Farmington Hills, some of my 
earliest memories were at the arcade. I 
wouldn’t be where I am now without 
my time at Marvin’s. I worked there 
throughout high school, and it was my 
first glimpse into the working world. 
While I will miss the original location, 
I’m so thrilled to see what comes next.
”
Jewish makeup artist Francie 
Fruitman is also looking forward to the 
museum’s future.
“I can’t imagine a more perfect fit 
for their new home,
” says Fruitman, 

who has frequented the arcade since its 
Tally Hall days. “Orchard Mall has a lot 
of fond memories for many of us here 
as well. I think the new location can 
only benefit the businesses around it.
”
It’s the “marvelous” community sup-
port, Yagoda explains, that’s encour-
aged Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical 
Museum to push through the tough 
times and forge a new path forward.
“It’s humbling to see how much my 
father’s passion has touched people,
” he 
says. “I’m honored to be able to keep it 
going.
” 

Jeremy Yagoda stands in 
the space that will be home 
to a bigger and better Marvin’s 
Marvelous Mechanical Museum.

The long-running attraction and family hangout 
will soon be housed in Orchard Mall.

Marvin’s Marvelous 
Mechanical Museum 
Set to Move to 
West Bloomfield

ASHLEY ZLATOPOLSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

OUR COMMUNITY

12 | DECEMBER 19 • 2024 J
N

