FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. (WXYZ) — A popular Michigan attraction is struggling to remain open amid the ongoing pandemic. Now supporters are hoping to raise just enough funds to keep business open.
Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum was founded by Marvin Yagoda, and opened to the public for the first time in 1980. Now, years later, and with the world facing a global pandemic, the popular attraction's future is in question.
The museum displays mechanical games and other quirky, yet interesting, devices such as coin-operated animatronic dummies.
Since the state shutdown in March in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus, Marvin's Marvelous Museum has remained closed. It won't be given the OK by the state to reopen until phase 5 of the MI Safe Start Plan.
"It is our goal to reopen Marvin’s once it is safe to do so and without risk to patrons and staff," wrote Jeremy Yagoda in a GoFundMe post. "However, financially speaking, we cannot afford to wait that long. Being a philanthropic family it's hard to ask, but we need your help so that Marvin's will be able to open for business once it is safe to do so without risk to our loyal and loved customers instead of shutting down for good. We wish there was another alternative."
Monthly expenses have been pilling up since the museum's closure, totalling well over $10,000 a month.
"We need to pay rent, insurance, electrical, and keep up with general maintenance. While so many of our machines are sitting idle and not being used, this will actually cause them more damage over time than the wear and tear of being used daily," Jeremy wrote. "With so many machines at Marvin’s, it is still a full-time job keeping each machine in working order."
As a solution, fans are donating funds to help keep Marvin's open. The GoFundMe page aims to raise $75,000 and you can donate here. The business has already received $13,649 toward that goal.
Additional Coronavirus information and resources:
Click here for a page with resources including a COVID-19 overview from the CDC, details on cases in Michigan, a timeline of Governor Gretchen Whitmer's orders since the outbreak, coronavirus' impact on Southeast Michigan, and links to more information from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the CDC and the WHO.
View a global coronavirus tracker with data from Johns Hopkins University.
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