The Golden Skate, one of the Bay Area’s last surviving roller skating rinks, is closing, according to a message on their website.
The following message was posted on their website:
Dear Patron, Employees, and all who love the Golden Skate,
I purchased The Golden Skate in August 1995 when it was on the verge of closing.
It took me many years to revive the business. Unfortunately, the enormous financial damages that we suffered due to COVID have made the continued operation of the Golden skate infeasible and so it is with a great deal of sadness that I must announce that The Golden Skate will cease its operations.
In March 2020, following the state and county mandate, we ceased all roller skating activities, while still paying for the overhead of our staff and paying the ongoing operating expenses of the rink. We reopened the rink in May of 2021 and were hopeful that we could regain enough income at a break even or better, but it has become clear that
our hope is unrealistic.
During the past ten years, all roller skating rinks of our size have gone out of business in the Bay Area. Being the largest roller skating rink within hundreds of miles, many of our skaters come from all over Northern California: from Gilroy in the south, Vacaville in the north, Sacramento in the east and Richmond and San Francisco in the west.
The Golden Skate has become the most diverse multicultural, multiracial and multi-generational sport entertainment in the area. We are aware that the closure of the rink will affect many of our avid skaters and we will do our best to allow our beloved customers to say their farewells.
It makes me sad to close a business that I have enjoyed running and worked so hard to revive. My staff has always been my biggest asset, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to meet and work with so many wonderful people over the years. My hope is that the memories created over the decades of the Golden Skate will live on and will be cherished by those who have visited us.
Sincerely,
Dr. Hassan Sharifi
An exact date of closure wasn’t provided.
photo credit: The Golden Skate – Facebook
57 comments
Another win for the Dems and another loss for the hardworking American people. It’s unfortunate that when something like this happens, most registered Dems don’t understand that it’s the policy of the Left to destroy America in order to create their idea of utopia, a Socialized Marxist state, and they will continue to vote Democrat.
How can people be so blind?
If Dr. Sharifi was in the country illegally, both, the feds and the state would have rushed right in to help him.
What an angry and hateful comment to make, not to mention incredibly rude.
Dawg – Way to dump on some sad news, and somehow make it political.
I’m really sad to see this place go.
@Sunchick, I’m not angry and there is nothing hateful about the truth, but sometimes the truth can be ugly.
@Bobohead, It was Democrat politicians who made the decision to shut down businesses in the name of “keeping people safe from COVID-19,” and that, my friend, makes it political.
@Sunchick and Bobohead. While most of the Democrats that I know (friends and family) are kind and sincere people, the Democrat party bosses (starting with Biden) are anti-business and destructive. Note the higher gas prices, supply chain shortages, rampant theft in San Francisco, open borders, the Afghanistan fiasco, and divisive Covid mandates. I was in Walmart in Martinez the other day and noticed that even $1 aspirin is now locked up to prevent theft. We are not living in normal times.
And, I am also very sad to see them go.
The destruction of this business is squarely on the Democrats. The lockdowns were unprecedented in our history and represent the height of government overreach. How many families were ruined? How many retirements evaporated? How many suicides? Even the CDC came out against the lockdowns because they were causing a mental health crisis.
The American people should never allow this to happen again. The lockdowns were a direct attack on our lives, liberty and happiness. Let us not forget that the people ordering these lockdowns had no skin in the game; their jobs were never at risk. The king’s men, alright.
I’m sorry for that business. By the time they reopened, people had drifted away or realized skating while wearing a mask is no fun at all.
@Anew – Everything under lock-and-key is the new normal. Blame city “leaders” and corporate America for caving to the Marxists that run BLM. In the end, if the retailer is okay with eating the loss, then that’s on them. Actually, it’s on the shareholders or their customers, as the retailer will no doubt punish the latter to restore profits to the former.
My family knows a family that moved to Florida with much less authoritarianism, and their school continued dances and such while ours ended them. We now have no Golden Skate, while if I Google Florida they have lots of skating places. I can see why Gavin and fellow socialists would hate that place anyway. We would go there and the kids who did not know how to skate were helped by their friends, and falling down while learning was part of the fun. There were no victims. The management did not determine how you learned to skate. Learning to skate at Golden Skate showed freedom and creativity and self-reliance, all things socialists hate with a passion.
Wow I had no idea that the current Senator from Florida Rick Scott (R) is actually a socialist who hates kids having fun at a roller rink. I mean after all he was the Governor of Florida starting on January 4 2011 and and just about 8 months later the oldest Florida roller rink closed his doors
https://tinyurl.com/kajy5j5m
Thanks TDL for your contribution.
The government didn’t order a lockdown at the Roller Rink in FLA.
The owner said the crowds had dwindled over the years so he sold the rink for financial reasons… didn’t you read the story you posted?
So Jellyfinger you must not have read the original article:
“We reopened the rink in May of 2021 and were hopeful that we could regain enough income at a break even or better, but it has become clear that our hope is unrealistic.”
That means there is not a large enough crowd, and TDL tells us that this shows that the Governor is a socialist who hates children having fun.
JWB: You must not have read the original article. They had been open since 1995! It is absolutely amazing they survived that many years. But Gavin swooped in and sure put a stop to that, forcing it to be closed for a year. That is a huge money loss that also includes losing its cast of regular customers. At the same time Gavin ordered Golden Skate to close, Gavin’s personal winery stayed open.
I see.
And you are saying there are no Covid regulations affecting the business now.
Haha You guys will blame everything on dems. It was the stupidity and selfishness that kept this virus around longer that kept our businesses closed longer. You know, anti maskers and the anti V, The fact of the matter is that its a dying business and this was the nail in the coffin. I went 5 years ago and it was trashy but it was fun. Honestly im sad to see it go but understand that thats life. But stop making everything bad in your life politics. Because realty is the side resistant to stopping the pandemic is not the Dems
Lj: Covid rates in Florida with no authoritarian Gavin mandates has one half of the new weekly covid rates that California does according to the latest from the CDC. As for criticizing Democrats, they gave us 4,700 BLM and ANTIFA protests, many violent including assaults and looting, they gave us two impeachments, a million and a half illegal aliens welcomed at the border and given money and transportation while we have a growing army of homeless and drug addicted on our streets. The Democrats quite literally care more about Honduran citizens than the citizens here. And you want to portray democrats as victims because some say mean things about their policies. Yeah. Right.
The Liberal scumbags don’t like it when you expose them, but everything you said is spot on. There are two problems with America: 1) The liberal scum on the left trying to destroy what great conservatives have built. 2) RINO’s on the right who don’t yet realize we are in a war for our country.
Don’t be mad because your silly recall didn’t didn’t go the way you all planned. Your labels, name calling and finger pointing doesn’t help the reality of why bad things happen like Golden state closing or why over 700,000 people have lost their lives. Viruses don’t care which political party you belong to. Science is what matters. The sooner you all can realize the sooner we can make some progress.
I believe the skating rink in Antioch is open.
Unfortunately, Contra Costa Indoor Sports, in Antioch has permanently closed their doors also. Directly related to the lockdowns last year. It was a great place to play roller hockey, volleyball, indoor soccer and yes even good old fashioned roller skating. Sad to see both businesses close their doors for good
Paradise Skate in Antioch is open. Check their web site for their hours.
The skating rink in Antioch at the fairgrounds is still open. It is called Paradise Skate.
Very sad to read this, but its not surprising. I have many happy memories skating there as a kid. Had at least one of my birthday parties there.
Very sorry to read about this, my daughter and her friends spent many happy hours at Golden Skate.
Hopefully they received relief funds for Covid, but running a small business with employees in California is a huge challenge given the regulations imposed by the Democrats (Socialists) in Sacramento.
108RS
This is so sad. I have so many wonderful memories throughout my childhood that took place at the Golden Skate. 🙁
Never understood why people have to argue or state their political views when covid as stated by businesses is truly the culprit. Other rinks have closed and never was blame placed on any political affiliates. Today is special with special people who jump on the internet with their ideas but wish it was for positive.
I used to take my kid there…….just like I used to go to Roller World in Concord back in the 80’s………..roller skating has gone the way of the Model T.
Oh no! My daughter had her birthday here a year before Covid hit. She had her own pair of skates, and we have happy memories here (not to mention that it reminded me of my own childhood in the 1980s). I sincerely hope someone buys and revives it again.
Took the kids three weeks ago. They had a blast. So sad.
Total BS! The sale of the Golden Skate has been in works for years. Shariffi’s wife and himself have real estate backgrounds.
This is greed in all facets and the city of San Ramon and Shariffi should be ashamed. So we need more $800k 3 story condos? Where are these kids supposed to play and exercise and socialize? Where? Online? Playdates? It’s pathetic and greed and lack of integrity are the only reasons.
It makes me sad. I worked there all through high school. I lived on my skates and was hoping to show my daughter but that dream has been taken because dollar signs are more important.
That entire area of San Ramon is a joke with the housing being allowed and lack of schools etc. Oh but the developer will put in a park. Thanks! The $500 in monthly HOAs will cover it huh?
The city of San Ramon should have bought the Golden skate and made it a city run establishment. I can’t stand the lack of integrity. Just sickening.
We’re all in this together!
Says the government employees whose jobs were never at risk.
This is very sad news. Just as others here I have fond memories of taking kids there. It was always fun. It was great for birthday parties.
I worked in San Ramon for years and never knew it existed until reading this article. I know there is an ice rink in Dublin I believe. Ice skating is better anyways imho.
@Dawg: I don’t understand: ya’ll are crowing about how low the gas prices were, that’s why they were low: businesses weren’t open because we were all sheltering in place. Y’know, cause Trump told us 15 cases going to zero and i’s just like the flu.
Republicans are weird now. Their arguments fold in on themselves. You want to give Trump credit for low gas prices without explaining why gas prices were low. Kinda like how the vaccine is now a government socialist trap…except when you involuntarily bark TRUMP VACCINE!! at the suggestion he didn’t do anything for covid.
Don’t you know how to respond to a post! You must have been taking posting lessons from Hanne.
greg—I am not a ya’ll. I speak English. Where in my comment did I mention the price of gas? Who do you think is responsible for giving the order to shelter in place? Democrats, that’s who. The Dems are solely responsible for people losing their business, and jobs. Some were even forced into early retirement, and some lost their homes.
On the price of gas, under Trump our country was energy independent, now we are relying once again on OPEC. Who’s president now? That’s right, an incompetent dullard who doesn’t even know where he is half the time.
Then you go on babbling about the vaccine, I have no idea how you got any of that from my comment. What I said is true, if you don’t understand, that’s on you. It’s not my place to explain it to you and I don’t argue with anyone on this site, because I don’t really care what you think.
@ Dawg ~ You are dealing with a Troll…..
In internet slang, a troll is a person who posts inflammatory, insincere & false info in an online community with the intent of provoking readers into displaying emotional responses, simply for the troll’s amusement.
They are akin to a monkey flinging poo at the zoo…. ignore them.
As I told the Professor last week, the only winning move is not to play.
.
Really Dawg? the Democrats are the sole cause? Not a deadly disease called Covid-19. You are so full of hate that you are delusional. I think you need a piece of paper to rip up into lots of pieces to get out some of that aggressive anger you are displaying.
I’m still upset that Gomer Pyle was cancelled …now this is too much !!!
What? Gomer Pyle got cancelled? That’s awful news! Next they will go after Leave it to Beaver!!!
AD
If business owners can’t make money keeping their businesses open, then they close. They won’t keep something open that is costing them thousands of dollars, without making a profit, just so a few people can skate a couple times a year. Memories don’t make money, and they fade. That’s just a fact of business and life. Okay, maybe some famous celebrity could pen a book on their memories, and sometimes a lot of people will buy it.
A friend once told me she loved the SF Library because it had a coffee shop. I asked her how many times she had a cup of coffee there. Once in ten years. Oh, but it’s not fair if they ever decide to close.
Small business such as this have been the backbone of the American economy, however, things are changing with the large companies with deep pockets are now firmly in control. I believe the lockdowns devastated many small businesses especially in Democratically-controlled states and cities and many sadly will not come back. But, I also believe the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well which is one reason so many newly arrived immigrants come to this country for a new start in achieving the American dream. I cite the 2007 housing crisis where many lost their homes and businesses. Also, remember when the stock market blew up in early 2000. Many businesses went belly up. The most frustrating thing to me is watching a single party state like ours which has the highest gas tax at .67 per gallon and then look at Arizona with the lowest gas tax at .17 per gallon and then look at how much better the overall infrastructure is next to us. No accountability.
If they opened their schedule a little more… Me and a couple of friends have been trying to go but it seems they’re always closed when we try… sucks that a good spot is closing
As an owner of a local business, I would be willing to write some monthly checks
to allow Golden Skate to remain open, if others who are sad will also do the same and contribute.
Instead of pointing fingers (valid or not) maybe we could all pitch in and help.
Golden Skate did Friday(or was it Saturday?) night DJ music dances way back in the day. It was a great place to meet girls, back then.
First of all, and most importantly, what’s going to happen with the cash grab booth???? Could I purchase it???? I’ll pay $500.
Second, who are all the losers on here talking politics? Get outta the way guys, we gotta grieve our roller rink here. This space is for honoring the golden skate.
The sad thing is that the cash-grab booth works only when you put more cash in than you take out.
You don’t own “this space”.
As for COVID HOAX politics, its made to destroy every last bit of Americans way of life. It’s doing a good job.
When i was a kid we would go to the golden skate and i couldnt wait til i was 21 so i could check out the wicked eye but alas it closed when i was in my late teens.( this was a topless dive bar that was on srv blvd and the court you turned onto for the rink)
At least i was told it was a strip joint by older relatives – i never made it inside
I LOVE roller skating, and this was a great facility but I stopped going long before COVID. The last time I went, they were playing sexualized music videos with explicit videos. Maybe they cleaned up their act after that. I don’t know. I don’t like to lay down hard-earned cash for sleazy entertainment.
This makes me so sad! I skated there in the 1970s, and then took my kids in the late 90s/early 2000s. It was so incredible walking in there after having moved out of state in my teens and then coming back and taking my own kids it felt I was walking back in time. 🥲
So skate outside. For free.
@Dawg: No, Democrats are not responsible for a deadly plague. Democrats took responsibility for protecting their citizens, which the president of the united states completely abandoned, which is why businesses were closed for as long as they were.
At the end of 2020 we were a viral s-hole with a collapsed economy. The voters noticed and we elected the team that actually opened businesses again and got our economy on the right track. Thank god.
Them’s the facts. You have no facts that can counter it because we all sheltered in place and watched Trump talk. We all watched. And then he lost in a landslide. Wonder why.
Greg ,I always enjoy your comments . They show the liberal mentality and the complete lack of logic and fact . You are entertaining and funny .
What about any one or a combination of, the Tech giants of the Bay Area Stepping up and saving the Roller Rink.
Google, Oracle, Apple, Facebook and and many others.
“The Golden Skate has become the most diverse multicultural, multiracial and multi-generational sport entertainment in the area. We are aware that the closure of the rink will affect many of our avid skaters…”
Contra Costa county is not business friendly. After two weeks, In-N-Out Burger in Pleasant Hill is still not being allowed to reopen indoor dining. Other localities are noticing. From Florida’s CFO: “I’m a small business owner who grew up in a family-owned restaurant and worked there for more than 30 years. I know how hard it is to turn a profit and make payroll on a good day, let alone when your own government is working to crush your business.” — https://bit.ly/3D1OGdY
It was In- N- Out’s own decision to disregard the law, so now let them pay the consequences. Why should they be above the law, when the rest of us aren’t?
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