The End of an Era: Roller Jam USA Hosts Final Night of Skating
Before 9 p.m. on Saturday, crowds of people lined up in a parking lot opposite a Sonic Drive-In in the suburban neighborhood of Tottenville, Staten Island. Emotions ran warm inside a large white building as Roller Jam USA hosted its final night of skating.
Patrons swapped shoes for skates, some finding seats on full benches while others leaned against lockers, carefully lacing up. Some skaters took small steps to the rink, shuffling their arms for balance, while others occupied the bar.
Keishonda Cruws of New Jersey, who grew up coming to the rink, expressed her sentiment, saying, “When I knew that it was the last night, I was like, I have to come. Somebody pulled me down here a few years ago, and I sprained my tailbone. I’ve fallen a lot, but that’s a part of it. Everybody falls.”
The roller rink, which has been in operation for 17 years, has faced its share of challenges, including a renovation after Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and a temporary shutdown due to the pandemic in 2020. However, the ultimate reason for closing was a rent increase in a lease renewal.
Owner Joe Costa shared the news in a video on Instagram last month, taking many of his longtime customers by surprise. “The amount of rent that I was going to have to pay in order to renew my lease was just an amount where it was financially impossible,” Mr. Costa said in an interview.
Roller Jam USA first opened in July 2007, aiming to bring families and people of all ages together. On its last night, three large disco balls hovered over the rink while the playlist offered up funk, disco, new wave, and R&B.
Mr. Costa, reflecting on the closure, said, “There was this fun that I had when I grew up and incredible memories of skating as a teenager. I wanted to do something for the kids on Staten Island and give them a place where they can actually communicate and not just be on their phones.”
The closure of Roller Jam USA marks the end of an era, as it was the only year-round roller-skating rink in New York City. Many patrons expressed their sadness at the loss, with one saying, “It’ll be sad to let this go. It’s places like these that help build lifelong friendships among diverse backgrounds, ages, religions, and everything.”
As customers bid farewell to the beloved roller rink, owner Joe Costa expressed his gratitude, saying, “I appreciate any person that came through our doors. Every single one of them is like family, and my job was to make sure how they were going to have an amazing time for the love of skating.”
The closure of Roller Jam USA has left a void in the hearts of many, but the memories and friendships built within its walls will live on.
