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 approach 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 last evening of skating.

Patrons swapped sneakers for skates as some discovered seats on the corners of the complete benches whereas others leaned towards lockers, fastidiously lacing up. Some skaters took small steps to the rink, shuffling their arms for stability, whereas others occupied the bar.

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

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

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

However in the end the rationale for closing could be extra typical: a lease improve in a lease renewal. Joe Costa, the proprietor, shared the information in a video on Instagram final month, taking a lot of his longtime prospects abruptly.

“The quantity of lease that I used to be going to should pay with a purpose to renew my lease was simply an quantity the place it was financially inconceivable,” Mr. Costa mentioned in an interview.

Curler Jam USA first opened in July 2007 after Mr. Costa and his brother Tommy had already seen some success operating tanning salons all through Staten Island. The brothers needed to begin a enterprise that might carry 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 massive disco balls hovered over the rink whereas the playlist supplied up funk, disco, new wave and R&B.

“There was this enjoyable that I had after I grew up and unbelievable recollections of skating as a teen,” Mr. Costa, 60, mentioned. “I needed to do one thing for the children on Staten Island and provides them a spot the place they will 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, akin to DiscOasis and Showfields, and the out of doors 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 operating the enterprise, he mentioned, and lives lower than a six-minute drive from the rink. He’s unsure what’s subsequent for him, however he’s proud of what they’ve been in a position to create over time.

“I respect any individual that got here via our doorways,” Mr. Costa mentioned. “Each single one in all them is like household, and my job was to ensure how they had been going to have a tremendous time for the love of skating.”

For 4 younger girls who met via the New York Metropolis roller-skating scene over time, 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,” mentioned 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 numerous backgrounds, ages, religions and every thing.”