Do you remember-North Avenue Roller Rink?

[Resident]

It was located on North Avenue and 5th Avenue, across from the race track, where Flash car wash is located at now.

I know it has been a long time, but I remember going to this roller rink when I was younger. I kinda miss it and wish it were still around to take my kids to. I know there are not too many rollerskating rinks around.

[happygardener]

Didnt it have a 4 wheel skate up on the sign? Cant remember if it turned or not. I do remember going there as well.

There is still a skating rink way west in Lombard on 22nd street. But not many left. Insurance costs are killing them.

[Resident]

I think you might be right about the sign, not too sure myself. been a long time. But I really remember the organ music, just hanging out skating and laughing away. Those were great times. Wish I had pictures. I know that roller blading has somewhat replaced it. It would be neat to have another rink around, for either rollerskating, blading or even skateboarding.

[happygardener]

After we moved from MP, I started going to The Elm in Elmhurst on Roosevelt Road. Tony T?? on the organ. I remember both at the Elm and North ave rink, the organist announcing over the microphone: "All Skate, this is an All Skate" or "Couples only" I wonder what happened to those organs when the buildings were torn down.

[Bubble]

Resident wrote:

It was located on North Avenue and 5th Avenue, across from the race track, where Flash car wash is located at now.
I know it has been a long time, but I remember going to this roller rink when I was younger. I kinda miss it and wish it were still around to take my kids to. I know there are not too many rollerskating rinks around.

yes i do remmember that rink..I was a skate guard there.I started skateing there when I was 8 yrs old

[Animal]

I remember my dad driving me & my friends to the roller rink on Saturdays. I had my skates with pom poms on them & we would eat hot dogs & skate for hours. Later on I was a room mom for my kids school & we had skate night every year. Time sure does fly & memories last forever.

[Hawardenite]

Wow yeah I remember that place. Too bad it got torn down for another car wash/c-store.

[Scooter]

happygardener wrote:

Didnt it have a 4 wheel skate up on the sign? Cant remember if it turned or not. I do remember going there as well.
There is still a skating rink way west in Lombard on 22nd street. But not many left. Insurance costs are killing them.

it didn't have a 4 wheel skate just a plain sign plus there was a sign from the old drive in theatre

[happygardener]

Yeah I thought I was confusing it with "The Elm Roller Rink" in Elmhurst. Thanks for clearing that up.

[Stone Parker]

How about the Hub Rollar Rink on Harlem Ave that rink was very nice and many happy memories.

[Trese]

Stone Parker wrote:

How about the Hub Rollar Rink on Harlem Ave that rink was very nice and many happy memories.

I remember that one too. Maurice Lenell cookies was next to it, I think.

[Animal]

Stone Parker wrote:

How about the Hub Rollar Rink on Harlem Ave that rink was very nice and many happy memories.

Yep, I went to that one too. Skating was such an innocent activity.It kept kids off the street & in a safe wholesome environment. The kids today would call us "Dorks". Wow, the times have sure changed & we're showing our age.

[Stone Parker]

Maurice Lenell was next door and the smell of the cookies stopping in the store to buy bags of cookies.

[Back Then]

A lumber yard was at First Ave and Lake St before McDonald's.

The pond at Chicago Ave and Thatcher had a shack for ice skaters in winter. It had a big old wood burning stove that kept it warm and toasty. Forest Preserve workers used the scraps from trimmed and fallen trees for fuel.

[Back Then]

Janet Lynn was an Olympic ice skating medalist and Ice Capades star who visited the North Ave roller rink. She was fairly helpless on indoor roller skates and the slick floor. Roller skates do not dig in like ice skates.

[Patty K]

I have a video of my family skating at the north avenue a few years before it closed. I started skating there at a very youg age and it was great to "go back" and reminisce. I also skated at the Elm. I wished I could have gotten a momento from the rink before it closed. I have a coat check key from the Elm.

[MPR]

The Waltz,Tango,fox Trot, The Romp, the 14 step, What were the other dance numbers?

[Trese]

MPR wrote:

The Waltz,Tango,fox Trot, The Romp, the 14 step, What were the other dance numbers?

hmm, don't remember, but I do remember the organ and they used to call out "Couples only" and "Ladies choice". lol

[daredevil]

Now the current craze is all hardwood floors...think about how many floors that rink could have supplied wood for. And it always just glistened!

An earlier blog mentioned the Outdoor Movie Theater! All winter long the sign would always post: CLOSED FOR THE SEASON
REASON: FREEZIN!

[Bill Carmichael]

Resident wrote:

It was located on North Avenue and 5th Avenue, across from the race track, where Flash car wash is located at now.
I know it has been a long time, but I remember going to this roller rink when I was younger. I kinda miss it and wish it were still around to take my kids to. I know there are not too many rollerskating rinks around.

I used to skate there competetively in my youth. The Skate club I belonged to in Champaign would drive up to skate in meets. Lots of fond memories about the rink and some of the skaters who's home rink it was. Patty Seipp and her partner Tommy LeVan were very good skaters and treated our club great and always made us feel at hom there. I think her dad was the owner.