It was 2009.  I had only just begun the idea of working a little side hustle recording voice overs and phone messages on a computer in my basement.  We’d only been married for 2 years. What you see today?  It was at such a stage of infancy that our biggest outreach was an ad on EBay offering to do voicework.  I spent two dollars and twenty one cents at the time to list our services trying to find a way to get started.  Down by Orchard Lake, I saw a sign from a TV show I had seen and turned the car around quickly.  Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum, from the History Channel was real.  It was also right there.  A stop had to be made.

The HIstory Channel show was on the history of coin operated things.  Everything from the Automat food options to what I had never knew was in Michigan and a remarkable find for any collector or enthusiast of nostalgic fun and cool things.  Hell, I was just impressed to see something from Michigan on the show.  So, after looping around we stopped in to see Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum.  Opening the door, I figured it would be some high school kids running the place and fair enough…but nope.  There stood Marvin himself, so I told him the story of our haphazard visit and about my time on the West Side of the state in radio and entertainment.  He popped open the till, grabbed a handful of quarters as big as he could hold, and made me his guest, not a customer.  I knew there would be a day that I could pay him back, somehow….

A couple of years ago, word came that the mall they were in was going to be razed.  I panicked.  I didn’t know that Marvin had passed.  I remembered the irreplaceable history inside the building and I immediately raised my hand on their Facebook messenger…. 2/17/24 at 2:38p and asked if they would consider moving the entire collection to somewhere else.  I got an auto response.  Understandable…a landmark like this, and now an uncertain future?  It had to be quite an overwhelming time…but I was ready to commit to being part of any kind of committee or team to find a new spot.  You can actually see the screenshot of the ask.  I owed Marvin one.  Maybe I could jump in here?  Two years passed.  Quiet.

Then, not long ago…I see that their Facebook page comes back to life.  Wait!  What?  Right back to the instant messenger.  When can I come down to help spread the word?  Jeremy Yagoda, Marvin’s son replied “Well, it’s a soft opening but when you can get here, come on in”.  I had a promise to keep.

Greeted at the door by Jeremy, just like his dad did…I was yet a stranger in a new place once again, and that lasted a total of 30 seconds.  Also at the museum that day, brother in law Andrew who is the General Manager and “Mr. Fix It”.  Yes, a 3-D printer comes in handy when working on 100 year old machines.   This time I had more than a t-shirt.  Camera in hand we sat down to tell the story of the museum, reminisce about his dad some and talk about the significance of the collection.  We talked about the family business the tumultuous times of having to move.  We also talk about the idea of a second generation now coming in to be a part of this incredible and completely spellbinding place where there are so much more than machines that provide quick and easy amusements.  It’s a living time capsule of Americanna curated by a family and shared for passion, purpose and more over….LOVE.  Can they make a buck while they are at it?  Yep…but you need not spend a penny to visit.  It’s open to all and the inviting sense of nostalgic warmth…it’s never going to be topped anywhere.

Today, you’ll find Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum located at 6427 Orchard Lake Road in West Bloomfield.  It’s a mile away from the old spot. It’s well worth a days trip from anywhere in Michigan or of you are in the Metro Detroit area, plan an hour or two.  The quarters?  Easily replaced by digital cards now, pretty easy to swipe and play.  The atmosphere is alive, the spirit of Marvin lives on.  Truly, remarkable in Michigan.

CLICK HERE to visit Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum on Facebook or on the image below.