West Bloomfield welcomes Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum

By: Gena Johnson | C&G Newspapers | Published January 30, 2025

 There are multiple options for entertainment at Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum. The museum is set to be relocated from Farmington Hills to West Bloomfield.

There are multiple options for entertainment at Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum. The museum is set to be relocated from Farmington Hills to West Bloomfield.

File photo by Patricia O’Blenes

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WEST BLOOMFIELD/FARMINGTON HILLS — Amid community support for Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum, the West Bloomfield Zoning Board of Appeals voted unanimously to grant two variances for the long-time Oakland County establishment to operate in West Bloomfield Township at a meeting Jan. 21.

Variances allow a business to deviate from established ordinances if doing so will not be a detriment to the community or impose a burden on the neighbors and in cases when a business cannot operate without a variance. It can be a useful tool to bring new businesses to properties that are operating under decades-old ordinances, allowing modern businesses to operate in a manner in keeping with the times.

Marvin’s is an arcade and museum that has been a “destination” for fun in Farmington Hills since opening in 1980 in Tally Hall, which was originally a food court located at  31005 Orchard Lake Road.

After the ownership of the shopping center where Marvin’s is located opted to bring in Meijer as an anchor store, along with some other reportedly mixed-use buildings, the museum began to search for a new location.

The museum’s new home is set to be located at 6427 Orchard Lake Road in West Bloomfield. It is located in the Orchard Mall, approximately one mile from its former location.

Its owner, Jeremy Yagoda, is looking forward to the new space.

“We realized we wanted more space but we never had the opportunity,” Yagoda said at the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting. “So we’ve been pushed in the corner to do what we always wanted to do.”

Yagoda is excited about the new location and what’s to come for Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum. This includes kids’ private party rooms, more antiques, modern games and more photo booths.

“I am very happy your family business has found a new home, a better home in West Bloomfield,” David Barash, who is the chair of the West Bloomfield Zoning Board of Appeals, said. “I serve on the Parks Commission as well and it aligns with things that we do for our community for every age group, so it’s so exciting to see you’re still here.”

The first variance that was granted will allow Marvin’s to operate within 80 feet of a residential lot line. The township currently requires businesses to be 100 feet from a residential lot line.  However, since the part of the building closest to the residential property line is for the business’ storage and no mechanical amusements are in that area, the variance was allowed.

The second variance allowed for an entrance from a front exterior wall rather than a common entrance via the mall.

Board members concurred that the property could not be renovated to have a mall entrance and supported the museum using the same entrance as the businesses that formerly occupied that space.

Those businesses used a front exterior wall entrance.

“I think that is (the) most prudent thing to do, to use that entrance that is already there,” Kathy Hagopian, who is a voting Planning Commissioner member, said at the meeting. “It is a good spot for him to stay in the area. People want that viable mall and it will bring people to the town center district. I think it’s a win-win for all of us.”

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According to Barash, the West Bloomfield Zoning Board of Appeals received more than 200 letters, in addition to calls and emails, expressing support for Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum.

Community members at the meeting expressed their support.

“There are thousands of people who are in favor of this business on Facebook,” said resident Miriam Leary, who has been going to Marvin’s since 1980.  “And it can only bring good things to West Bloomfield. It is well-loved internationally.”

Those who love Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum range in age.

Ross Miller, 18, of West Bloomfield said, “I’ve been going to Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum since I was a kid.”

He further explained there are not many arcades in the area and that he and his friends  love going there.

Karen Amick of Bloomfield Hills described herself as an older mom during the public address portion of the meeting.

“I just want to speak for all the kids that just love, love, love that place. It’s fun to show these kids a little of my world,” Amick said. “It’s  a connection between my 12-year-old son and me.”

Before votes for the variances were taken, Shane Kolo, who is the vice chair of the Zoning Board of Appeals, said, “No opposition was made known to this Board.”

The Board voted 4-0 to approve the variance.

According to Kolo, Marvin’s is a family-friendly destination that is consistent with “what we want in our township.”

“It will be an additional pillar in our community,” Kolo said. “It will be part of what makes West Bloomfield the place we love to live.”

According to Yagoda,  his plans are to open the museum in the new location in early summer.

“It’s going to be really fun,” he said.