Culture

Last Skate at Empire Roller Skating Center in Brooklyn

by bondidwhat | April 24, 2007 at 05:05 am

3266 views | 13 Recommendations | 4 comments

The Empire Roller Skating Center in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn had its last skate this past Sunday. Said to be the birthplace of roller disco, the rink has long been a favorite destination for people of all ages. The site was also once a garage used by Ebbets Field, home of the Brooklyn Dodgers and has been used for skating since 1941. The site is set to become a self-storage facility.

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Brian A Kennedy

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 05:11 on April 24th, 2007

Great stuff, bondidwhat! As a Brooklynite myself, it seems like every time I turn around some unique aspect of the borough has gone away.

Actual News Geezer

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 05:16 on April 24th, 2007

bondidwhat,

When people tell me they'd like to report for NowPublic, but are not sure their story is important enough, I'm gonna point them to what you've just posted. The Last Skate at Empire could be the beginning of a doctoral thesis, a novel, a sociological comment on the changing nature of the US, or a moment of nostalgia. Your photos are terrific, btw. You gave just enough backgrounding to know where this place is and its context. Gobsmacked, I am, and flagging this Good Stuff.

Many thanks!

kate

at 09:25 on April 24th, 2007

This is so sad! Long live roller disco.

La Tasha (not verified)

at 16:00 on February 6th, 2009

I miss Skating..from Skatekey to Empire. Both out of business. DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT THEY BOTH DID WITH THERE OLD SKATES?? Or How to contact the owners ? I would like to purchase ALL the old skates. Please if anyone knows email me at TASHA8998@HOTMAIL.COM