Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum Faces the Threat of Demolition

A proposed redevelopment plan would see the community staple demolished for a Meijer grocery store.
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Photograph courtesy of Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum

is a beloved Farmington Hills destination. It鈥檚 been around since the early 1980s, founded by the late pharmacist Marvin Yagoda, and is now run by his son, Jeremy.

But now its longtime location could be demolished under a proposed redevelopment project in Hunter鈥檚 Square, the plaza on 14 Mile and Orchard Lake Road where the museum is located.

At , David Ortner, senior vice president of development at RPT Realty, the New York-based developer that owns Hunter Plaza, said they are negotiating with Meijer to open a grocery store in the plaza.

鈥淎re you tearing down everything from the Marvelous Marvin鈥檚 sign north?鈥 asked John Trafelet, vice chair of the commission, during that meeting.听He was referring to the iconic clock sign that guests drive under to park by Marvin鈥檚.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 the intended plan,鈥 replied Ortner.

鈥淭his is not what I initially heard the plans were鈥 I don鈥檛 know what we will do or where [we] would even go!鈥 Yagoda posted to , sharing a picture of the proposed development.

The plan moves forward

During a meeting on Thursday, the Farmington Hills Planning Commission unanimously approved recommending the proposal 听to City Council. They also attempted to recommend the museum be offered another location in the development, but City Attorney Tom Schultz said they don鈥檛 have the authority to do that.

that the Planning Commission 鈥渃onsidered four factors before making a recommendation to the council: the extent the plans comply with city regulations, the city鈥檚 master plan, the community benefit of the project and community feedback.鈥

The decision was met with displeasure from the crowd that gathered in the standing room, with some leaving the room and others shouting 鈥渟hame on you,鈥 You guys are terrible, you guys suck,鈥 and more, according to the Detroit News.

During this meeting, Ortner confirmed an earlier statement from Meijer spokesperson Frank Guglielmi to that the Meijer would not affect Marvins, saying in part, 鈥淭he proposed Meijer that鈥檚 been in discussion that the community is familiar with, this is a smaller grocer format. It is only on the north end of the project. It鈥檚 not in any way impeding on Marvin鈥檚 or that portion of the development.鈥

He also added that RPT Realty intended to work with Marvin鈥檚 on a location.

鈥溾W]e have a longstanding relationship with Marvin鈥檚 鈥 they鈥檝e been a tenant at the center for a long time. We鈥檝e been in regular communication with them,鈥 he said. 鈥淲e鈥檒l certainly work with them and look for opportunities to maintain their presence at the center, whether in their current space or a different space鈥e certainly appreciate their presence at the center.鈥

Yagoda was not present at Thursday鈥檚 meeting due to a trip to the , which hosts an annual trade show where Marvin鈥檚 acquires and commissions new pieces for its collection.

As of early Friday afternoon, called 鈥淪ave Marvin鈥檚 Marvelous Mechanical Museum!鈥 has received 31,900 signatures and counting.

In addition to traditional pinball and arcade games, Marvin鈥檚 includes unique coin-operated animatronics (some created by Marvin himself), including 鈥淭he Disgusting Spectacle,鈥 a depiction of a man picking his nose; 鈥淭he Brain,鈥 a fortune-telling mad scientist; and a miniature of the Spanish Inquisition.

There鈥檚 also oddities like the Cardiff Giant, a replica created by P.T. Barnum. It has been featured on the History Channel and Antiques Roadshow on PBS. It鈥檚 also the inspiration behind indie band Tally Hall鈥檚 debut album Marvin鈥檚 Marvelous Mechanical Museum.

This post has been updated with new information.听