Farmington Hills ― Fans of a beloved Farmington Hills arcade known for its vintage video games are worried about how a proposed development near the long-running business could impact its operations.
Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum, located on the west side of Orchard Lake Road just south of 14 Mile, has been a staple for video game lovers for more than 40 years. It’s known for a wide range of coin-operated games and vintage memorabilia.
But the Farmington Hills Planning Commission is scheduled to meet at 7:30 p.m. Thursday to review a proposed planned unit development south of 14 Mile and on the west side of Orchard Lake Road in the same location as Marvin’s. The plan was submitted by Giffels Webster, a civil engineering and community planning firm.
In a post on Facebook, Marvin’s owners, who’ve shared renderings of a new Meijer store as part of the planned unit development, said they’ve been in contact with local officials and the building’s landlords about possible options. Marvin’s was started by Marvin Yagoda, who died in 2017, and is now run by his son, Jeremy.
“The landlord and city are aware of my concerns and passion for continuing Marvin’s!!!” said Marvin’s in a post late Tuesday on Facebook. “I am fighting tooth and nail every step of the way, if we can’t work something out here I will be looking for other options.”
A Meijer spokesman on Wednesday said the development would feature the retailer’s new smaller grocery format.
“Its location on the site will have no impact on the Museum’s current location,” said Frank Guglielmi, senior director for corporate communications with Meijer.
A change.org petition to save Marvin’s, meanwhile, had more than 10,000 signatures as of Wednesday evening.
Marc Marmelshtein, a Farmington Hills resident, said it would a be shame if the proposed development is approved.
“Marvin’s is legendary,” he said.
Farmington Hills’ planning director didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Marvin’s started 40 years ago in the Tally Hall shopping center but has been in its current location for years. The more than 5,000-square-foot museum and arcade attracts both kids and adults. Some of the machines are nearly 90 years old and collected from around the globe.
The arcade has faced challenges before. During COVID, a GoFundMe was started to keep it afloat and raise $75,000 to pay rent for the building.
