Third Generation of Pinball Wizards Takes the Helm at Walton’s Games

By Mary Casey-Sturk

Founded by Willard “Smokey” Walton in 1950, Walton’s Games in Blue Ash is celebrating 75 years in business in 2025. 

You might be familiar with Walton’s Games and don’t even know it, Walton’s has been selling, repairing and renting games to area businesses (and homes) for decades. This family-run business will also help you if consign your old games, so you can make room for more! Speaking of renting games, Walton noted the growing popularity of renting arcade style games for wedding receptions and events. “Games could be the cure for a quiet cocktail hour or an awkward rehearsal dinner, where you’re staring at a family you don’t know.” Continuing, “video games bring people together, a claw machine with the kids trying to win stuffed animals, adults competing in a Pac-Man tournament. It’s the kind of thing you go home and 10 years later you say, ‘Do you remember Brad and Sarah’s wedding?’ It was so much fun and not like every other wedding you’ve ever been to.

Family Ties

Adam Walton took over the business in 2024 from his uncle, Bruce Walton. Along the company’s journey they’ve been known by other names, such as Modern Coin (its original name) and AAA Vending.  Started primarily as a gumball machine supplier, it grew as the popularity of pinball machines, video games, air hockey tables and everything you can think of for the fun areas in your home. 

As a third-generation owner, Adam is thrilled to be keeping the business in the family and it’s a change of direction for him from corporate life. With a dedicated staff and his brother, Matt helping, they’re focused on continuing the business the two generations before them built.

Shares Walton, “My grandpa was an entrepreneur at heart, and he was always hustling, he sold clothes for a while, he sold watches for a while, there was always something he was hoping to try to do- but he had a full-time job.” Adding about his grandpa’s ‘side hustle’, “Modern Coin took off, it was a gumball machine company, and they basically had vending routes, and they had gumball machines in grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants and pizza parlors. It took off and became a profitable enough business that he began to focus on it full-time. As business grew into the 1970s, it was decided to rename it AAA Vending because he wanted to move up higher in the phone book but phone book listings!” Later, Adam’s uncle Bruce would take over the arcade business while another uncle focused on and expanded the legacy gumball business.

When Adam was faced with a corporate buyout from his role at a telecom company in 2023, he had time and his uncle was ready for retirement, he decided, “let’s give this a try and take the family business over. My uncle doesn’t have any children, so it was kind of a natural progression.” Adding, “I’ll take a shot at this. I think I could do it, and I have run little businesses much like my grandpa did. We’re kind of entrepreneurs, let’s see what we can do here.  It’s a keeping the family business “alive” kind of thing -it’s awesome and it’s really been fun. A bonus, my brother (Matt) has been right here with me, and it’s given me and my brother a chance to work together, which we’ve never done before.” Adam praised his brother’s sales skills.   Walton’s Games has also moved to a larger showroom, located at 4772 Ritter Avenue in Blue Ash.

What’s Old is New Again

With all the technology at our fingertips, why do you think arcade-style games are still popular?  “My take on it is a lot of times it is the grandparents buying them with the excuse of ‘well I’m buying this for the grandkids’, but really they’re buying it for themselves because it’s a chance to relive their childhood, which I think everybody in their core really wants to do.” Shares Walton, “On the other side of the coin, I delivered a Guardians of the Galaxy pinball machine to a lady in Hyde Park about two months ago and her son was 13. He was so excited, and she said their neighbors have a pinball machine too.” Those kids were younger (ages 13-14) and they’d never played pinball. They played it for an afternoon and decided, ‘this is the greatest thing ever’ to have one of these.  I think it’s one of those things where kids probably look at it and think ‘Oh, that’s not cool’ but then they play it and they’re like oh wait, this is super fun!”

Many games today are immersive, for example, “Arctic Thunder which is a snowmobile racing game with cool effects such as a seat that rumbles, so it feels like you’re on a snowmobile, and it also has built-in fans blasting cold air in your face as you’re driving down the course.” 

Seventy-five years of delivering fun to area residents keep Adam Walton focused on the future and thankful for the communities that support Walton’s Games.