After six years of business, Aloha Fun Center, which contains one of the last indoor skating rinks in San José, is rolling out of the Eastridge Center.
Despite the closing, owner Liz Ruiz voiced her gratitude for having the opportunity to own and manage the rink for as long as she did.
According to an Jan. 19 article from San José Spotlight, the rink started out as a two-month pop-up when it originally opened in 2018, but because of a six-year contract extension, it was able to stay active longer. The contract officially ended this year.
“I was never meant to stay here permanently,” Ruiz said. “So the fact that I squeezed six years out of a two-month contract is really quite a blessing.”
The rink is scheduled to officially close down on Feb. 23, according to Ruiz. While the future seems a little uncertain for her, she said she is determined to find a new spot and start another skating rink.
“I wish that we could say that we’re moving, but unfortunately we’re not prepared to have a new spot so fast,” Ruiz said. “It depends on how much work is needed at the new spot whenever we finalize where that is going to be.”
Along with Ruiz, employee Lisette Munoz has been working at the skating rink since its opening and is a little sad about the rink closing down.
“I think it’s sad that we’re leaving, but I know Liz is on to bigger and better things,” Munoz said.
Because of the closing, the rink staff is encouraging the community to come to the events and put on the skates for the last few times at Aloha Fun Center.
Much of the outreach has come from putting up signs around the city and social media posts, according to Munoz who addressed the importance of outreach in the community.
Some of these events included an Emo-Goth Night on Jan. 19 and a Decade Night on Jan. 24. Jan. 26 was originally supposed to be the last day for them to do events, but were able to extend some events into February which can be seen on their Instagram page.
According to Ruiz, the extension occurred because the project that is going to replace Aloha Fun Center ran into some delays with permitting.
Some of the events in February include a Rock & Roll Night on Feb. 2 and a Disney Day on Feb. 21 and can also be seen on their Instagram.
“We’re getting people from Morgan Hill, Milpitas and Piedmont,” Munoz said. “So I think the posting is very important. That’s how we keep getting more customers.”
Some of these customers take skating classes taught by employee Maricus Jones, who started skating in 2021 and was eventually hired by Aloha Fun Center to teach people how to skate.
“It definitely holds a really sweet spot in my heart because I’ve put in a lot of blood, sweat and tears into skating here and it is my primary hobby,” Jones said.
With the impending closure of the rink, Jones remains optimistic that a new site will be found soon.
“Skating doesn’t disappear just because this location shuts down,” Jones said. “I’m looking forward to the next chapter to be honest because it may open up new opportunities to try new things at a different location or different audience than what we’re normally used to.”
While most of the staff have voiced their sadness about the closing, maintenance worker Mike Montello, said that he was heartbroken to see the place go.
Montello manages the quality of the skates in addition to teaching people how to skate.
“It’s painful for me,” Montello said. “I skate here every day, I’ve got hundreds of new friends and I can’t believe it’s going away.”
Montello said he credits roller skating as a major contribution to his life changing for the better.
“Skating changed my life and it will change anybody's life if you give it a chance,” Montello said. “It brought a whole new perspective to the way I look at life because of the roller rink. It’s a beautiful thing and I’m hurt to see it go.”
