Berk Enterprises, a family-owned business since 1954, has been a significant player in the paper products industry. The company initially started with three main divisions: coin dealing, pest control, and paper supply. As Robert Berk started working with his father, he saw an opportunity to expand the business, particularly in the paper supply division. He created Berk Concession Supply, a specialized division that designed and sold products like cups, napkins, and other disposable items specifically tailored for fairs and festivals. One of his most iconic creations is the “Lemonade Cup,” a design recognized coast-to-coast and a staple at outdoor events. Under Berk’s leadership, the company diversified further, moving into importing products from China, such as plastic cutlery and heavyweight paper plates. This shift allowed Berk Enterprises to compete with larger domestic companies and positioned itself as a key player in the concession supply industry. The company now operates Berkley Square, a division focused on importing products. This division has adapted to the changing global trade dynamics, especially the evolving relationship between the U.S. and China. And, his passions extend beyond the family business. Behind the entrepreneur and businessman stands an avid collector of a past time that is filled with nostalgia and joy.
The Birth of a Pinball Passion
There is no doubt that Berk’s father has been influential in his life. His dad, who was an avid coin collector, also passed his love for collecting memorabilia to his son. Berk’s fascination with pinball was influenced by his father’s passion for the game and the 1947 pinball machine they had at home.
“Growing up as a kid, I always enjoyed hanging out with my dad, who was a big pinball enthusiast,” remembers Berk. “We actually had a machine in our home when I grew up, and the game was made in 1947, so I got introduced to pinball in a big way. And this was before the days of Pacman and video games, and all you saw for entertainment was pinball machines. There were pinballs everywhere.”
He became an avid collector. He started putting ads in publications for the pinball industry. “I got a phone call from a guy in Halifax, Nova Scotia, who had 200 machines,” recalled Berk, who flew there to buy them. “He opens up the door in his one room and they are lined up. I was a kid in a candy store. I just lost my mind.” He ended up buying 40 games. And, then he got phone calls from someone else in Wisconsin, Nebraska, and all over – beginning the journey of his collection. As Berk grew older, his love for the game intensified. During his college years, he was captivated by the array of pinball machines that were the main form of entertainment before video games took over. His passion led him to research the creators and designers behind these games, sparking a desire to honor these unsung heroes. “I started reading up on some of the people behind the scenes who built these games, got the names of some of the people, and I thought to myself, these guys are really special and it’s too bad, at least in my opinion, that the designers and the artists, never got the recognition’.”
In 1985, Berk founded the Pinball Expo, a show dedicated to celebrating the designers and artists who crafted these beloved machines, in Chicago. What started as a one-time event became an annual tradition, now celebrating 40 years of honoring the pinball industry’s pioneers. The success of the Pinball Expo fueled Berk’s love for collecting pinball machines. His collection grew from a single machine in his basement to over 1,040 different titles, earning him a place in the Guinness Book of Records for the largest collection of pinball machines.
Past Times: A Dream Realized
The culmination of Berk’s passion is the Past Times Arcade, an arcade and museum that houses his 600 pinball machines. It was after sharing his idea with his wife, she suggested that he take his idea and turn it into a museum for the whole world to enjoy. And that’s how Past Times was born. Located in a repurposed 30,000-square-foot grocery store in Girard, OH, Past Times is a haven for pinball enthusiasts from around the world. Berk’s dedication to preserving and showcasing these machines has made Past Times a popular destination, drawing visitors who share his love for the game.
Last year, Berk celebrated its one year anniversary with well wishers, press, and the community at large. At that moment, his daughter handed him a package. “It was the Guinness Book of Records for me having the single largest collection of pinball machines with 1,040 different titles,” said Berk. “I never expected that.” It took two years in the making. They photographed every single machine in order to prove to Guinness that Berk had as many as he says in his collection. Beyond just collecting, Berk’s involvement in the pinball community is profound. He continues to engage with the designers and collectors who have made the pinball world what it is today. His favorite pinball machine in his collection is called the Texan, built in 1960. And, as he thinks about his passion for the arcade staple, he reflects on what it means to him. “It brings back good memories, happy times.”