Latest news with #MerleHayMall
Yahoo
29-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Merle Hay Mall's basement is frozen in 2000. Explore the mall's abandoned Garden Court.
This is the first in an occasional series taking readers inside unique places in Iowa that aren't readily accessible to the public. Stepping down into the Merle Hall Mall basement, one is greeted by the ghosts of former stores and eerie stares from dolls dressed in Christmas apparel. The 30,000-square-foot space, once the home of a McDonald's, Cost Cutters and more, is now abandoned under the feet of mall-goers. Despite being closed to the public since 2000, Des Moines residents often speculate about what's gone on down there since it was sealed off. Upon entering the space, you run into what used to be the old Disc Jockey. CD shelves have been replaced and now hold the mall's old drinking fountains, sinks and other plumbing parts. Moving into the common area where the escalators were located, empty flower beds and benches are lit by black antique street lights. A faint outline of the former McDonald's sign is still visible on the wooden panel entrance, and the old-school, brown nonslip tiling has a light layer of dust tinting the floor. Before the closure, shoppers visited the basement for the Armed Forces Recruiting Center or to make a quick 10 bucks by completing a survey for a research company. What was the original use of the Merle Hay Mall basement? What was known as the "Garden Court" could do much more than serve as a place to get a burger or a haircut. The original use for the basement was effectively a bomb shelter. The mall took advantage of the Federal Civil Defense Act of 1950, which offered matching grants to states for constructing air raid shelters. "Commercial property owners had a pretty significant incentive to build, what they would say would be, a Civil Defense-rated building," said Elizabeth Holland, the CEO of Merle Hay Investors, which owns the mall. Merle Hay Plaza opened in 1959, and it was developed by Holland's grandfather, Joseph Abbell, making her the third-generation to lead the mall in Des Moines. The mall captured the expansion of the suburbs to the north and west of Des Moines. Back then, Interstate 235 wasn't there to cut traffic through the metro. Instead, Douglas Avenue served as one of the main routes from Des Moines to the growing suburbs. The mall straddles the border of Des Moines and Urbandale, effectively serving as the epicenter for the sprawling metro. "Nowadays, they name the road after the shopping center," Holland said. "Back then, Merle Hay Road was already Merle Hay Road, and they named Merle Hay Plaza because it was on the road." When the tax credits expired, Abbell decided to take advantage of the space for commercial use. So he converted it into a bowling alley in 1972 and additional spaces for stores in the early 80s. "When those tax credits expired, rather than having bunk beds and canned foods in the basement, my grandfather developed Merle Hay Lanes," Holland said. "And so we were in the bowling alley business." Is the Merle Hay Mall basement haunted? When Holland decided to work for her grandfather 28 years ago, there were already rumblings of the basement being haunted. "I don't know the genesis of why people thought it was haunted other than 28 years ago, people already thought that," Holland said. Security officers make frequent trips down to the basement. Some of them move the Christmas dolls around to make it seem as if they are alive. Holland never experienced any paranormal activity in the basement, but as an avid horror film fan, she can't help but enjoy the speculation. "It had so many different uses that I think it was probably an urban legend that grew up around having lots of people down there," Holland said of the rumors. Why did Merle Hay Mall's basement close? After a renovation of the mall's interior, many tenants requested to move to the upstairs or out of the mall. So, investors decided it would be best to close the entrance to the Garden Court area, which was located near the mall's children's area. A separate entrance still allows access to the bowling alley. What's next for Merle Hay Mall basement? The mall is in conversation with a possible destination entertainment business that would take over the basement. One contender would develop a speakeasy-type nightclub to pair with the existing bowling alley. The basement's redevelopment project would be part of the mall's larger arena project. In April, Merle Hay Mall announced the arena would be home to Drake University's hockey team when it opens. Other tenants joining in the project at the time included the Iowa Demon Hawks professional indoor soccer team and the Central Iowa Figure Skaters. The Des Moines Buccaneers no longer plan to be part of the project. Conversations about reopening the basement are ongoing, but it is too soon to say what business or who they are with, Holland told the Register. "I don't want to say who it is with," Holland said. "It's a very strong local operator of entertainment venues, but we have had some good conversations." Kate Kealey is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her at kkealey@ or follow her on Twitter at @Kkealey17. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: The Merle Hay Mall basement is abandoned. See inside the Garden Court. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Urbandale business helps community safely recycle electronics
URBANDALE, Iowa — An Urbandale recycling center company is helping the community safely unload electronics during spring cleanup events. Electronic Asset Security, which opened three years ago, is a leader in IT Asset Disposition (ITAD). ITAD is the process of securely and sustainably managing IT assets that are no longer in use through recycling, refurbishment, and secure disposal. The company hosts a clean-out event every spring and fall in Urbandale, as well as other spring events in Waukee, Johnston, and during the four Des Moines Mega Scrubs. On Saturday, the crew hosted its Urbandale cleanup, where hundreds used the company's services. Playing pickleball for a good cause: local organization hosts tournament fundraiser 'We are expecting probably upwards of 800 to 1,000 cars; I know last year we did about 47,000 pounds and we are anticipating over that this year too,' said Paul Schwegler, Vice President of Electronic Asset Security. 'More cars, more people. We brought out extra staff to try to get through the backlog but it's pretty much like it was last year, maybe a little cooler thankfully.' The business takes in electronics and ensures they are recycled properly, and for electronics in need of it, ensures information is properly protected and cleared. 'The way we say it, it's pretty much anything that's an electronic that's not an appliance. So, no refrigerators, or stoves, or microwaves, but anything that you would buy at Best Buy that's not in the appliance section,' said Schwegler. Electronic Asset Security will assist during the City of Des Moines MEGA SCRUB Event on April 19th, located in the Merle Hay Mall north lot from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Electronic Asset Security also takes in drop-offs year-round at their center located at 4331 112th Street in Urbandale. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Des Moines City Council approves changes to Merle Hay Mall hockey arena project
DES MOINES, Iowa — The Des Moines City Council on Monday voted to approve changes to the Merle Hay Mall hockey arena project. In 2021 the mall and the Des Moines Buccaneers announced a multi-million-dollar project to build a 3,500-seat ice hockey arena that leaders hoped would rejuvenate the surrounding area. But in July, roughly two years after the project broke ground, the Buccaneers pulled out of the project citing its cost and contractual issues. Cooper DeJean, teammates to compete in charity softball game at Principal Park After nearly a year of the project being stalled, the mall announced that it would go on with the project with a few changes and new tenants. According to mall leaders, the plans now include just one sheet of ice, sports courts, and pickleball courts. Those who would use the multi-use space would include the Drake Hockey Team, Iowa Demon Hawks, and others. In order to continue with the project, the Des Moines City Council and Urbandale City Council have to approve the amended project application for state funding. The project jumped through one of those hurdles on Monday with the Des Moines City Council's stamp of approval. The Urbandale City Council is expected to vote on the amendment on April 15. Metro News: Des Moines City Council approves changes to Merle Hay Mall hockey arena project Ankeny police requests help locating missing teen 1 dog killed in Ankeny house fire Monday Drake welcomes new men's basketball coach Eric Henderson Renaissance Faire returns to Ames next weekend Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Merle Hay Mall finds new tenants for arena, seeks city approval
DES MOINES, Iowa — The Merle Hay Mall is preparing for a vote to restart construction on the Merle Hay Arena, which will host some new tenants. In 2021, Merle Hay Mall announced plans to build a $26.5 million multi-use arena on the site of the Younkers which closed. The 3,500-seat arena was meant to be the new home for the Des Moines Buccaneers. Shortly after breaking ground for the new site, the Buccaneers pulled out from the project stating cost and contractual issues. The site has remained untouched since then as the mall attempted to find new tenants. WHO 13+ streaming app now available on Amazon Fire, Roku, and Apple TV Now, the mall says they have new plans and new tenants. We are very excited about our plans for the former Younkers building and have been working hard on the amendment with our municipal and state partners. Drake's Hockey team and the Iowa Demon Hawks will be playing their games in the arena. We are talking to many additional groups who will also use the arena for their activities. A portion of the development will house a volleyball training, practice, and league facility. The tremendous success of Dinks Pickleball (opened in 2023) and their 17,000 unique users has given us a wonderful roadmap map to the great success that additional sports and entertainment will deliver. These are strong, local teams run by great organizations, and we could not be more enthused about what this will mean to our development and this entire area. Merle Hay Mall Director of Leasing Jared Hassman The Des Moines City Council is set to vote on the new plans on Monday, which includes a redesign allowing for additional gym space, music and performance acts, and improvements to infrastructure and the mall. If Des Moines approves the application the vote will then move to Urbandale on April 15. Following approval from the Iowa Economic Development Authority, the Merle Hay Mall says they hope to continue construction later in the year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
