New arcade opens inside Marketplace at Merced. See these special machines
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- Kiddleton opened a new claw machine arcade at Marketplace at Merced in June 2025.
- The arcade features 20+ self-service machines with Anime and Kawaii prizes.
- Claw machines operate without staff and are restocked and serviced as needed.
A new claw machine arcade offers patrons a chance to try their luck at winning various prizes and collectibles inside Merced’s mall.
The claw machine arcade, owned and operated under Kiddleton, a Japanese arcade company, opened the location in June at the Marketplace at Merced. The arcade features more than 20 claw machines filled with prizes and characters such as plush mascot figures.
GENDA, Kiddleton Kiosk’s parent company, manages and supports multiple entertainment business companies and operate about 250 amusement arcades under the brand GiGO, through its subsidiary GENDA GiGO Entertainment, according to the company’s website.
The arcade, located inside the mall between the Spirit Halloween and Le Bella Rosa store fronts, is open Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m..
The location requires no on-site staff and patrons purchase tokens allowing them to play the machines independently, according to Marketplace at Merced Marketing Manager Nanette Villegas. The company, operating as Kiddleton since 2019, installs and operates mini-crane machine arcades in empty spaces located in shopping centers and supermarkets, according to the company’s website.
The company has supplied amusement kiosks for installation in various states including Texas, California, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Arizona, Washington and Hawaii. The company’s website said it offers more than 1,000 different prizes including Anime products and Kawaii toys. The company said it even offers products that are exclusive to Kiddleton Claw Machines.
According to Villegas, the machines located inside the mall are serviced when needed and regularly restocked with prizes. Villegas said that so far, the arcade has been a popular hit with mall patrons.
This story was originally published August 11, 2025 at 8:12 AM.