VIENNA — Berk Enterprises Inc., the Warren-based company that distributes products to the food service and amusement industries, plans to consolidate its headquarters and warehouse operation near the Youngstown Warren Regional Airport.
“The intent is to build a new building, a large building to handle our current needs as well as our future needs,” said Robert Berk, president, after the Western Reserve Port Authority on Wednesday agreed to sell his company the 36 acres on Ridge Road.
The sale is for $295,000.
The land, next to the Antique Tractor Club of Trumbull County west of the airport, is minutes away from state Route 11 and is also nearby state Route 82. It has been owned for years by the port authority, but has gone undeveloped.
“We haven’t really done anything with it at all,” said John Moliterno, port authority CEO. “Of course, it’s outside of our fence line, outside of our scope. We were approached by the (Youngstown / Warren) Regional Chamber, which was showing the property around the community to a gentleman who had interest in putting in a distribution facility.”
The sale was reviewed by the Federal Aviation Administration, which had no objection.
It’s too early at this point to say the size of the building, dollar investment or timeline for construction, Berk said.
“This land purchase has been something we have been trying to seal up for quite a while and not that it is finally happening, we can start putting our focus on the next steps and that is to get the design and the creation of the larger building,” Berk said.
Berk Enterprises, which is headquartered on Thomas Road SE, Warren, was founded more than 60 years ago. It also leases space at the Ohio Commerce Center in Lordstown.
Today, according to its website, it operates Berk Paper and Supply, a regional distributor of food service disposables, janitorial and maintenance supplies; Berk Concession Supply, which provides stock and custom designed plates, cups and other items to the amusement industry; and Berkley Square, which provides, in part, bulk and wrapped cutlery kits.
Anthony Trevena, port authority chief operating officer said: “Berk has been really been exploring expanding their footprint for quite some time. It’s really exciting to have them next to the airport.”
Copyright 2021 The Tribune Chronicle, Warren, Ohio. September 15, 2021. Ron Selak.