Tinsel, Bari Jo, and Hava Berman at Bari Jo’s home
We sat down with Bari Jo and Hava Berman a few months ago, to talk about their cool, retro feel, creation come to life: Utopia Pinball Lounge. Utopia Pinball Lounge will be located at 555 California Avenue but it’s light years’ away in terms of feeling and aesthetics. Step inside the cheery interior and you’ll be taken back in time to a midcentury vibe that is noted in even the smallest details. But that’s just the building. The coolest thing about Utopia Pinball Lounge are the Berman sisters and the machines they have curated and created for the lounge.
Bari Jo and Hava have been aficionados of pinball since they were children. The first game they had at home was the game Comet, a gift from their parents. They were fascinated by the analog nature of the machine, the way the ball moved and lit up parts of the game, and how getting better at the game was so satisfying. They want to bring that same love to new people who may not be familiar with the machines and their games.
They source their machines from a variety of sources: pinball machine companies, gaming companies, auctions, and pinball communities on social media. There’s be a huge revival in the industry and refurbished, vintage, and new games are wildly popular. The most popular games tend to be themed around music, movies, televisions, and eras in history, like Medieval Madness. They attended the Pinball Expo in Chicago last October. They plan to open with approximately ten machines and slowly incorporate others as desired.
They also plan to update their machine lineup frequently and swap out several machines per month to keep the pinball players interested and engaged in playing. There will be games for all playing levels: from novices to expert. There will be something for every guest to find delight in.
One particularly aspect of Utopia Pinball Lounge is that during regular working hours, it will function as Bari Jo’s office. Bari Jo, a retired Disney Imagineer, will be working in her design studio during the week. Friday afternoon and all weekend the office will become the lounge where pinball play will take place. Special arrangements may be made for private parties and the like, but the lounge will have specific hours.
They moved to this particular location with intent. The sisters moved to Boulder City from Southern California after visiting other locations in the desert southwest like Camp Verde, Winslow and Williamson, Arizona. When they found Boulder City, they knew they’d found their new home. The location on California Street was a dream come true as it was still part of the historic part of Boulder City. They love the optimism of the town and its deep roots in history.
They were excited about the proximity to Boulder Bowl and other downtown businesses. They plan to create leagues for players with the eye to hosting tournaments eventually. Scoring will be electronically linked using International Flipper Pinball Association (IFPA) system.
Make sure to stop by and visit the Dream Alchemist (Bari Jo) and the Fun Faerie (Hava) at their soft opening later this month! They will be offering tours of the lounge and explaining more about this magical concept come to life! You can stay up-to-date with the current news from Utopia Pinball Lounge by subscribing to Facebook (HERE) or Instagram (HERE) or check out their awesome website (HERE).
