FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM DECEMBER 9, 2021 • THE QUEENS COURIER 45
KEN GOLDBERG THE HEARTBEAT OF
Year 2022 will mark the
80th anniversary of a Woodside,
Queens-based two generation
market leader company,
Emerson Amusements
(www.emersonamusements.
com).
From the time he was a
youngster, Ken Goldberg,
the son of the founder, was
taught how to operate and
how to present jukebox music
and games by his father.
Ken has never been afraid to
take on industry challenges
often imposed by government,
and successfully overcome
them with solutions.
Emerson Amusements
and Ken Goldberg have
emerged to become what
is considered, the largest
greater New York metro regional
vendor for jukebox
music, games and “independent”
ATM machines in
bars, taverns, clubs, entertainment
centers, and food
establishments.
In New York State, there
are presently some 18,000 on
premises locations licensed
by the State Liquor Authority,
most which have suffered
in the past eighteen months
due to Covid. Ken Goldberg
believes that: “Bars, taverns,
and clubs combined with restaurants,
special events centers,
and leisure facilities are
trying to make a comeback.
A number of these establishments
received some government
assistance. However,
often government agencies
sufficate economic development
instead of encouraging
this sector’s vitality. Government
agencies like the
building department, the
health department, or the
liquor authority need to be
less myopic and insensitive,
playing gotcha. If the business
owners in this sector
have issues, these agencies
need to be constructive in facilitating
solutions. Anyone
can see how many vacant
properties and empty storefronts
have caused negative
vibes and decay in many
NYC neighborhoods. Government
needs to work with
these businesses so they can
flourish. This renewed prosperity
will translate into
more tax revenues, more employment/
vendor opportunities,
and more ‘nightlife’ vitality
for NYC.”
Ken Goldberg’s equipment
and services function
as the “heartbeat” of these
establishments. Ken is able
to apply his decades of experience
to a bar/tavern/club/
entertainment center operation.
He understands what
amusement games, what
jukebox music, or what ATM
services will become effective
for a location to generate
use, to provide an extra
purpose for the customer
to spend time and money at
the premise, and to bring
revenue to both Emerson
Amusements and the location
owner.
This may take the form of
a pool table, a shuffle board,
a skee ball, a “Buck Hunter”
game. “There is an abundance
of exciting, intriguing
games in 2021, which people
of all ages and skill sets love
to play,” Ken describes. Ken
and Emerson have an excellent,
honored reputation
among distributors and manufacturers
who source these
amusements. For a number
of years, Ken has been proactive
in creating leagues for
different amusements. “The
leagues promote excitement,
competition, and greater interest
surrounding a particular
game. Customers connected
to leagues increase
the consistency where they
visit a certain location as a
participant of a league,” Ken
describes.
“With music, the jukebox,
which has been a venerable
institution for nearly 150
years has survived the test of
time for its role in most of my
locations,” Ken states. Ken/
Emerson ranks as one of the
largest operators in the nation
for AMI Entertainment,
one of two remaining American
jukebox providers. “Today’s
jukebox is nothing like
years ago,” Ken waxes. “Providing
tens of thousands of
music artists and selections,
with high quality audio and
interesting photos, graphics,
and video, the jukebox
is an entertainment center
onto itself. The juke has the
capability to be displayed on
screens throughout a premises.
The jukebox’s presence
in a modest bar or tavern automatically
elevates the location
to a new level.”
When Michael Bloomberg
was Mayor, locations
were given permission to
present nine games. Ken
explains: “This initiative
brought renewed life to
many locations. It helped the
economic development. Yet,
in our post-Covid period,
there is so much more potential
if government policy
makers are in a cooperative
mode with the members of
our sector. I am optimistic
that incoming Mayor Eric
Adams sees this!”
Ken Goldberg was a
prime mover in convincing
government officials
to facilitate outdoor dining
and beverage service. “For
many business owners in
our space, it enabled them
to stay open and survive,”
Ken analyzes. “Again, it is
incumbent on government
to be in a cooperative mode
to help these business owners,
rather than pounce on
them with penalties, summonses,
and impossible
regulations.”
In addition to his expertise
he is called upon to
share with government officials,
Ken’s role in NY jukebox
music makes music artists
reach out to him. For
more than a decade, Ken
Goldberg has been President
of the Amusement And
Music Owners Association
of New York, Inc. He is also
active in the Greater New
York Metro Regional ATM
Association. His peers respect
his leadership in fulfilling
these roles.
NY BARS, TAVERNS, CLUBS!
Billy Joel with Ken Goldberg
The late B.J. Thomas with Ken Goldberg
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