Merle Hay Mall is still managed by the family that built the mall

The Merle Hay Mall is located on the Corner of Merle Hay Road and Douglas Avenue is Des Moines, Iowa. The mall is an enclosed super-regional shopping mall with over 1.2 million square feet of retail floor space that can accommodate over 95 stores and services, where visitors have the opportunity to eat, shop, explore and play. The mall is owned by Merle Hay Mall Limited Partnership the family that built the mall in the 1950's.

The Mall was opened in August 1959 as an open air plaza with 31 stores including Younker and a bowling alley that is still in operation. A movie theater and six story office building were added in 1965. In 1972 the mall was enclosed and renamed the Merle Hay Mall.

In November 1978 a fire started in the original Younkers store and resulted in over $20 million in damage and ten employees were killed. The store took over a year to rebuild.

The large department stores that now reside in the mall are Sears, Kohl's, Younkers and target. Some of the other 95 tenants include Fashion stores American Eagle Outfitter, DEB, Victoria's Secret, Motherhood Maternity, Foot Locker and Old Navy. Other stores include Bath & Body Works, AT&T, Radio Shack,

Food stores located in the food court include Aunti Anne's Pretzels, Maid Rite, Starbucks, Villa Pizza, IHOP and Hickory Farms.

The mall has undergone recent renovations such as a new main entrance and relocating certain retailers to create space for smaller stores with exterior entrances. Sears has been redeveloped to include Staples and Ulta.

A kids club is available for children aged 2 to 8. Children who become a member of the Merle Hay Mall Kids Club will receive a T-shirt and membership card that can be used to receive discounts at various stores throughout the year.