Merle Hay Mall to add 3,500-seat arena, 150-room hotel

Merle Hay Mall officials have announced a new purpose for the old Younkers store. The space has been vacant since Younkers closed in 2018, but mall officials are hoping to build upon the area’s reputation as an entertainment destination by renovating the space into a 3,500-seat multipurpose arena and 150-room hotel.

Among the first purposes of the arena will be to host the Des Moines Buccaneers hockey team. The Buccaneers have been playing in Wells Fargo Arena since its facility was heavily damaged by the August 10 derecho.

Merle Hay Mall is located at the west end of Des Moines’ Douglas Avenue corridor. Despite losing two anchor stores within months in 2018, Merle Hay Investments, which owns the mall, has been actively working to improve the facility and draw new investments and businesses.