Nickelodeon: Merle Hay Mall

Nickelodeon was an arcade venue situated at 4040 Merle Hay Road in Des Moines, Iowa, adjacent to Felix and Oscar’s restaurant and near the Forum 4 theaters across from Merle Hay Mall. Operating primarily from the early 1980s into the mid-1990s, this establishment offered arcade entertainment to the local community. The name “Nickelodeon” paid homage to early 20th-century entertainment venues that charged a nickel for admission, rather than being affiliated with the television network. The arcade was permanently closed by its Chicago-based operating company in 1995 or 1996.