Staten Island’s Curler Rink Celebrated Its Final Dance

Earlier than 9 p.m. on Saturday, crowds of individuals lined up in a parking zone reverse a Sonic Drive-In, making their means into a big white constructing within the suburban neighborhood of Tottenville, Staten Island. It was a cold Could night, however feelings ran heat inside as a curler rink, Curler Jam USA, hosted its closing evening of skating.

Patrons swapped sneakers for skates as some discovered seats on the corners of the total benches whereas others leaned in opposition to lockers, rigorously lacing up. Some skaters took small steps to the rink, shuffling their arms for steadiness, whereas others occupied the bar.

“Once I knew that it was the final evening, I used to be like, I’ve to return,” stated Keishonda Cruws of New Jersey, who grew up coming to the rink.

She remembered: “Any person pulled me down right here a number of years in the past, and I sprained my tailbone. I’ve fallen loads, however that’s part of it. Everyone falls.”

Over its 17 years of operation, Curler Jam USA has had its personal share of pitfalls, nevertheless it has additionally proven resilience. In 2012, the rink was renovated after Hurricane Sandy, and the pandemic compelled a short lived shutdown in 2020. After the rink reopened in 2021, it was at a smaller capability.

However finally the explanation for closing could be extra typical: a lease enhance in a lease renewal. Joe Costa, the proprietor, shared the information in a video on Instagram final month, taking lots of his longtime prospects without warning.

“The quantity of lease that I used to be going to must pay with a purpose to renew my lease was simply an quantity the place it was financially not possible,” Mr. Costa stated in an interview.

Curler Jam USA first opened in July 2007 after Mr. Costa and his brother Tommy had already seen some success working tanning salons all through Staten Island. The brothers needed to start out a enterprise that would convey households and folks of all ages collectively. Tommy would finally go on to work in actual property, leaving Mr. Costa, his spouse and their three kids to run the skating rink.

On its final evening, three giant disco balls hovered over the rink whereas the playlist provided up funk, disco, new wave and R&B.

“There was this enjoyable that I had once I grew up and unbelievable recollections of skating as an adolescent,” Mr. Costa, 60, stated. “I needed to do one thing for the youngsters on Staten Island and provides them a spot the place they’ll truly talk and never simply be on their telephones.”

Curler Jam USA opened simply as two longstanding New York Metropolis roller-skating rinks completely closed: the Roxy in Manhattan and Empire Skates in Brooklyn. New York now has curler rink pop-ups, comparable to DiscOasis and Showfields, and the outside Pier 2 Curler Rink in Brooklyn.

However the Staten Island institution has been the one year-round roller-skating rink within the metropolis, and judging from the crowds on closing evening, many individuals would really feel the loss.

Mr. Costa was ensuring prospects discovered their good measurement skates. He has taken off solely 10 weekends in his 17 years of working the enterprise, he stated, and lives lower than a six-minute drive from the rink. He’s unsure what’s subsequent for him, however he’s pleased with what they’ve been in a position to create through the years.

“I respect any individual that got here by means of our doorways,” Mr. Costa stated. “Each single one in every of them is like household, and my job was to verify how they have been going to have an incredible time for the love of skating.”

For 4 younger ladies who met by means of the New York Metropolis roller-skating scene through the years, Curler Jam USA was greater than only a enjoyable evening out, it was a spot to construct neighborhood.

“It’ll be unhappy to let this go,” stated Melody Olivera, 31, as she rested her arms on the shoulders of her associates in the course of the skating rink. “It’s locations like these that assist construct lifelong friendships amongst various backgrounds, ages, religions and the whole lot.”