Courtesy of Google Map. Terrible picture and name of street is skewed off road! See lower right corner to see that. This was likely taken when SYMS already closed for good when the mapper took this picture in 2007. Photo was slightly cleaned up.
Courtesy of Dead-Rinks. In this heavy modified picture to remove real estate sign with phone number still visiable that was posted just where my watermark says "Dead" covering pretty much whole parking lot and part of the wall and doors. This was taken after SYMS closed for good. Source photo: courtesy of Google Map.
Photo courtesy of Edward Kwiatkowski (Flickr). Noticed a very much like a shopping mall anchor department store. Axle used to run the rink here. After its closure, It was SYMS department store which itself too facing the decline of retail industry thanks to Amazon and D-stores. After SYMS, it became Savers, a thrift store followed by Salvation Army Thrift Store. Noticed front door was on the right side front with perhaps exit in middle but not sure. In the thrift store remodel, that section overhang has been removed and built a tall door entrance frame where the black colored doors as seen in this picture above. What I am seeing the thrift stores... they are doing well.
Photos courtesy of Living History of Illinois. Noticed the Axle which was running in 1970s had the old school sign that lights which skating session it was playing at the moment. It was popular in pre-1970s because of the popularity of Roller Dancing, Figure Skating, and more before the liberalism of any skates and lack of accessibility for the Deaf to know what kind of skating. The sign really pre-dates Americans with Disabilities Act and many rinks as this one did not discriminate! Now rinks are discriminating when there is ADA law around! When I was at Empire Skates East in around 1978 or 79, the light changed and I didn't care to hear what the announcement say and then a floor guard told me to get off the floor because of couple skating was happening. I said to him, "Excuse me, I am Deaf and I am going to skate whenever I want to! I want that low light and mellow music to skate all by myself!"
Source: Dave Rajput (who photographed this very photograph, read about him in the Update section of 16 May 2022 and he will explain why).
The snack bar was very similar to The Hub of Norridge. But very modern for its day. This reminded me of a certain dount shop.
Source: Dave Rajput (who photographed this very photograph, read about him in the Update section of 16 May 2022 and he will explain why).
The snack bar was very similar to The Hub of Norridge. But very modern for its day. This reminded me of a certain dount shop.
Bottom two- courtesy of Google Map. Shown are taken in 2016 and 2019 respectively. Noticed they removed where the original front doors were. Thrift store owners decided to keep where the SYMS Department store's front door used to be. So, that is how history happened with this building. SYMS closed the rink's entrance and had it installed in the middle.
They updated the look on outside to stand away of White Futurism of 1970s appearance into more of early 21st Century look.
They updated the look on outside to stand away of White Futurism of 1970s appearance into more of early 21st Century look.
Axle Roller Rink 9840 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Niles, IL
This was another rink besides Norridge and Countryside, IL, both suburbs of Chicago. Niles was also a suburb of Chicago. This rink has not much information as to a more popular known rink in Norridge that was The Hub. This rink information on opening is unavailable but they closed on August 4, 1984. Apparently all other Axle Roller Rinks closed In October 1985. Apparently it was the company that owned all three rinks were losing money apparently. Like store closings in 2000s and 2010s, Axle shut down for good.
It was located on 9840 North Milwaukee Avenue, Niles, IL. On Google Map, now it has different name, Glenview, Illinois. But it is pretty the same location. A suburb of Chicago. Or greater Chicago region.
This was another rink owned by M and R Amusements.
There is only one photo shown of that location rink which was more modern looking with the shade of the name that was stained on Sand White color exterior wall. The building looked so modern. At least 1970s Modernism-Cubicism. Many malls and department stores were in that appearance though (check Shopping Mall Museum website to see what I mean with the style).
UPDATE! Thanks to a skater/fan who skated at this rink wrote me and I am pasting here what he has to say --
Just to let you know, the Axle Roller Rink in Niles, IL was never known as The Hub. It was always officially The Axle. Its much older. previously established "sister" rink, The Axle in Norridge, IL, was known as the The Hub in her earlier days, but her moniker was changed to The Axle by its corporate owners, M and R Amusements, in the mid 1970's, in order to have all three of the roller rinks they operated have the same uniform brand name.
I was a frequent skater at both the Axles in Niles and Norridge from 1980 until their respective closures in '84 and '85.. I never skated the Axle in Countryside, IL; it closed before I got into skating. All of the Axles were located in suburban Chicago, though the Norridge Axle (nee Hub) was in a enclave "suburb" that was completely surrounded by Chicago proper.
Though I do not have any pictures of the Niles or Norridge Axles, I do have a great recollection of them both. For instance, the Niles Axle most definitely had a hardwood floor that had powdered resin applied at the start of every skating session--it also had lines painted on it towards center rink, where one could practice figure 8's, as well as the M&R corporate logo at center rink.
I do recall many of the intimate details of both rinks. I doubt that many remembered that the Niles Axle (a heavily disco music-influenced rink) actually had an organ skate session on Sunday evenings. I recall vividly (at least on disco skates) the order of the "skates", i.e., when it was all skate, when it was couples, when it was backward strut time, etc. I remember the layout of the non-skating area very well, such as where the pro shop was, coat check, snack bar, all of that, The Niles Axle even had a circular, maybe 6 feet in diameter dance floor in the non-skating area, with a juke box, that nobody ever used--that is, until break dancing became huge about '83.
I saw both the Axles during their sad ending days--it was a sorry scene for both. I think one of the final insults to injury for the Niles Axle, in late winter '84, (when it became clear that it had lost its popularity with the young crowd) was when a water pipe that froze underneath the mid-skating floor, thus buckling up and making a good portion of the floor "unskateable" for a while. I guess M&R's closing of the Niles Axle could have been considered a mercy-killing. I never thought that the Norridge Axle should have closed--that was a wonderful, classic old-school rink that would be hard to re-create from scratch now days. Not sure if there's that much maple wood to be had in the world now. It was a large rink.
(Part two-)
I don't remember the exact time period the Axle-Niles was built. It had to have been circa mid-1970's. Of note, the Axle-Niles was specifically built to specs, as a rink, by the M&R Amusement Company, unlike its older sister, The Axle-Norridge, which started its existence as The Hub, in I believe, the 1940's and later bought by M&R. M&R also managed and owned a number of drive-in movie theaters throughout the Chicago area, such as the Twin Drive-In in Wheeling.
The floor size of the Axle-Niles was similar to what I'm seeing of the pictures of the Roller Land of Choctow, OK--perhaps a bit larger. If you look at the screen shot of the now Salvation Army building, the skating floor pretty much extended lengthwise the entire building, save for about a 7 to 8 foot wide perimeter on three sides of the rink delineated by shaker boards; this area had bench seats that faced the rink. One could not see the rink from the snack bar area, the coat room, pro shop, or the gaming arcade--you could only get to the rink via two entrances from the non-skating area. You had to be on the floor or the bench seats in the perimeter to actually see the rink. The rink was fitted with the standard teen "disco-look" common for its day, i.e., black celing, dark walls, diamond balls with spotlights, plenty of flashing lights. The rink did have those "what skate is it now" illuminated boards at both ends of the rink. The Axle-Niles was the first rink I knew of that had a video display for many of videos associated with songs played during all skates; that came along about '83.
--Randall.
MORE from my new good friend, Randall:
Couple of things regarding the Axle-Niles update: There were rails on 3 of the 4 sides of the rink. I called them shaker boards, as is the term in hockey, but there were most definitely protective rails. Using NASCAR terminology, the straightaway between turns 2 and 3 was without any rail, nor was there any perimeter to walk or sit in that stretch. The snack bar was in an entirely separate part of the building, away from the rink, so no rails were necessary for it.
I kind of doubt that the frozen pipe was the definitive reason the Axle-Niles closed. I don't think I'd list that as *THE* reason. That was just one of the bad things that happened in the final year leading to the Axle's demise. I'm pretty sure the main reason The Axle-Niles closed was that it just fell out of popularity with the young crowd starting late '83. Just lost its buzz. What was a bustling rink that was often jammed on Saturday nights fell to where the biggest thing they seemingly were doing were birthday parties for 8 year olds and bar/bat mitzvah parties for those coming of age. The truth is I don't know the actual reason for its closure, but I'm betting it was financial. Might be better to list it as unknown thus far--somebody in the Chicago area must know the reason--the Axle was a really big entity and attraction during its time.
--Randall.
Thank you so much Randall! This is much appreciated and helpful information! Yes, more to ask!
Wow, the floor was well taken care of each time before a session began! Almost unheard of for any rinks I have done on this site! Maybe bit too well taken care of.
Maybe just partial of reason for doing too well can backfire. They had a water break during final year but the number of skaters were not skating there anymore may have been the real reason according to Randall.
Apparently there are no photos of interior to be seen or known. Anyone?
The cliché at this rink was showing that the females were a little tougher to say yes when you request for a couple skate. It was a little easier at the other Axles rinks.
UPDATE! -- 16 May 2022.
Today I read this email from someone who was involved with this rink. Here is what he has to say.
I enjoy your website, thank you for hosting it.
I worked at the Axle Niles from 1978-1980.
I took this famous photo. I was going in the Air Force and I wanted to
get a memorable photo of the entrance and ESPECIALLY the sign that
showed all old school different skate dances, Collegiate, Romp, All Skate, etc.
I have a few other pics from the Axle, I just have to locate them.
Still skating !!
Dave Rajput
Wow, that is great, Dave! Thank you for the information! And I see that photograph!
Interior:
This rink had a huge rink from one end to another as you see the photo of exterior, This rink was definitely large by observation. As Randall pointed out it was similar in terms of size to a rink at Roller Land in Choctow, OK. Now, save for about a 7 to 8 foot wide perimeter on three sides of the rink delineated by shaker boards; this area had bench seats that faced the rink. Likely means no rails for those three sides except for front where the snack bar, eating area, pro shop, etc.
One could not see the rink from the snack bar area, the coat room, pro shop, or the gaming arcade--you could only get to the rink via two entrances from the non-skating area. You had to be on the floor or the bench seats in the perimeter to actually see the rink. The rink was fitted with the standard teen "disco-look" common for its day, i.e., black celing, dark walls, diamond balls with spotlights, plenty of flashing lights. The rink did have those "what skate is it now" illuminated boards at both ends of the rink.
The Axle-Niles was the first rink I knew of that had a video display for many of videos associated with songs played during all skates; that came along about '83.
Word for word by Randall)
Exterior:
Originally it was White Futuristic of the 1970s appearance with curved corners, overhang. Very 1970s Future look. Modern for its day. It did look very much like many department stores look at any shopping malls. One comes to my mind is Sears building at Fayetteville Mall with the same curves and slight overhang but it was Sand color Cinder-Blocks built.
Maybe they were trying to have that look similar to BEst (on purpose and that is how they spelled their name) architectural look. It was beautiful design for this rink. I love the 1970s design. They were built in 1974 and that was the style that lasted till Savers Thrift store remodeled their look into 2000s look.
Yet, the curved corner remained!
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Maple ? wood with powdered resin applied on the floor prior to each session! Floor Layout: wood layout is unknown but lines toward center with M & R's logo in center. Had figure 8 layouts.
Building Size: N/A Built: N/A (Looked like 1970s style) Demolished: Still standing, now a thrift store..
Type of Building: Free-span Steel Truss Retail store-like stucco walled building (cinder blocks)
Roof: Flat Roof.
Operated: Axle Roller Rink: 1974 to August 4, 1984.
Reason for Closure: Several possibilities but it may have been financial. The water burst is only one tiny part and the popularity declined. The official reason is unknown..
Wanted: Information regarding actual date of opening for Axle. Rink size, building size, fate of building, type of building.
Any information and photos are appreciated. Contact Mark at [email protected]. Thank you!
Sources: Digital Library Research of Illinois Journal, Craig's Lost Chicago, Flickr, Randall S.,
© 2019 - 2020 Dead Rinks. All Rights Reserved.
It was located on 9840 North Milwaukee Avenue, Niles, IL. On Google Map, now it has different name, Glenview, Illinois. But it is pretty the same location. A suburb of Chicago. Or greater Chicago region.
This was another rink owned by M and R Amusements.
There is only one photo shown of that location rink which was more modern looking with the shade of the name that was stained on Sand White color exterior wall. The building looked so modern. At least 1970s Modernism-Cubicism. Many malls and department stores were in that appearance though (check Shopping Mall Museum website to see what I mean with the style).
UPDATE! Thanks to a skater/fan who skated at this rink wrote me and I am pasting here what he has to say --
Just to let you know, the Axle Roller Rink in Niles, IL was never known as The Hub. It was always officially The Axle. Its much older. previously established "sister" rink, The Axle in Norridge, IL, was known as the The Hub in her earlier days, but her moniker was changed to The Axle by its corporate owners, M and R Amusements, in the mid 1970's, in order to have all three of the roller rinks they operated have the same uniform brand name.
I was a frequent skater at both the Axles in Niles and Norridge from 1980 until their respective closures in '84 and '85.. I never skated the Axle in Countryside, IL; it closed before I got into skating. All of the Axles were located in suburban Chicago, though the Norridge Axle (nee Hub) was in a enclave "suburb" that was completely surrounded by Chicago proper.
Though I do not have any pictures of the Niles or Norridge Axles, I do have a great recollection of them both. For instance, the Niles Axle most definitely had a hardwood floor that had powdered resin applied at the start of every skating session--it also had lines painted on it towards center rink, where one could practice figure 8's, as well as the M&R corporate logo at center rink.
I do recall many of the intimate details of both rinks. I doubt that many remembered that the Niles Axle (a heavily disco music-influenced rink) actually had an organ skate session on Sunday evenings. I recall vividly (at least on disco skates) the order of the "skates", i.e., when it was all skate, when it was couples, when it was backward strut time, etc. I remember the layout of the non-skating area very well, such as where the pro shop was, coat check, snack bar, all of that, The Niles Axle even had a circular, maybe 6 feet in diameter dance floor in the non-skating area, with a juke box, that nobody ever used--that is, until break dancing became huge about '83.
I saw both the Axles during their sad ending days--it was a sorry scene for both. I think one of the final insults to injury for the Niles Axle, in late winter '84, (when it became clear that it had lost its popularity with the young crowd) was when a water pipe that froze underneath the mid-skating floor, thus buckling up and making a good portion of the floor "unskateable" for a while. I guess M&R's closing of the Niles Axle could have been considered a mercy-killing. I never thought that the Norridge Axle should have closed--that was a wonderful, classic old-school rink that would be hard to re-create from scratch now days. Not sure if there's that much maple wood to be had in the world now. It was a large rink.
(Part two-)
I don't remember the exact time period the Axle-Niles was built. It had to have been circa mid-1970's. Of note, the Axle-Niles was specifically built to specs, as a rink, by the M&R Amusement Company, unlike its older sister, The Axle-Norridge, which started its existence as The Hub, in I believe, the 1940's and later bought by M&R. M&R also managed and owned a number of drive-in movie theaters throughout the Chicago area, such as the Twin Drive-In in Wheeling.
The floor size of the Axle-Niles was similar to what I'm seeing of the pictures of the Roller Land of Choctow, OK--perhaps a bit larger. If you look at the screen shot of the now Salvation Army building, the skating floor pretty much extended lengthwise the entire building, save for about a 7 to 8 foot wide perimeter on three sides of the rink delineated by shaker boards; this area had bench seats that faced the rink. One could not see the rink from the snack bar area, the coat room, pro shop, or the gaming arcade--you could only get to the rink via two entrances from the non-skating area. You had to be on the floor or the bench seats in the perimeter to actually see the rink. The rink was fitted with the standard teen "disco-look" common for its day, i.e., black celing, dark walls, diamond balls with spotlights, plenty of flashing lights. The rink did have those "what skate is it now" illuminated boards at both ends of the rink. The Axle-Niles was the first rink I knew of that had a video display for many of videos associated with songs played during all skates; that came along about '83.
--Randall.
MORE from my new good friend, Randall:
Couple of things regarding the Axle-Niles update: There were rails on 3 of the 4 sides of the rink. I called them shaker boards, as is the term in hockey, but there were most definitely protective rails. Using NASCAR terminology, the straightaway between turns 2 and 3 was without any rail, nor was there any perimeter to walk or sit in that stretch. The snack bar was in an entirely separate part of the building, away from the rink, so no rails were necessary for it.
I kind of doubt that the frozen pipe was the definitive reason the Axle-Niles closed. I don't think I'd list that as *THE* reason. That was just one of the bad things that happened in the final year leading to the Axle's demise. I'm pretty sure the main reason The Axle-Niles closed was that it just fell out of popularity with the young crowd starting late '83. Just lost its buzz. What was a bustling rink that was often jammed on Saturday nights fell to where the biggest thing they seemingly were doing were birthday parties for 8 year olds and bar/bat mitzvah parties for those coming of age. The truth is I don't know the actual reason for its closure, but I'm betting it was financial. Might be better to list it as unknown thus far--somebody in the Chicago area must know the reason--the Axle was a really big entity and attraction during its time.
--Randall.
Thank you so much Randall! This is much appreciated and helpful information! Yes, more to ask!
Wow, the floor was well taken care of each time before a session began! Almost unheard of for any rinks I have done on this site! Maybe bit too well taken care of.
Maybe just partial of reason for doing too well can backfire. They had a water break during final year but the number of skaters were not skating there anymore may have been the real reason according to Randall.
Apparently there are no photos of interior to be seen or known. Anyone?
The cliché at this rink was showing that the females were a little tougher to say yes when you request for a couple skate. It was a little easier at the other Axles rinks.
UPDATE! -- 16 May 2022.
Today I read this email from someone who was involved with this rink. Here is what he has to say.
I enjoy your website, thank you for hosting it.
I worked at the Axle Niles from 1978-1980.
I took this famous photo. I was going in the Air Force and I wanted to
get a memorable photo of the entrance and ESPECIALLY the sign that
showed all old school different skate dances, Collegiate, Romp, All Skate, etc.
I have a few other pics from the Axle, I just have to locate them.
Still skating !!
Dave Rajput
Wow, that is great, Dave! Thank you for the information! And I see that photograph!
Interior:
This rink had a huge rink from one end to another as you see the photo of exterior, This rink was definitely large by observation. As Randall pointed out it was similar in terms of size to a rink at Roller Land in Choctow, OK. Now, save for about a 7 to 8 foot wide perimeter on three sides of the rink delineated by shaker boards; this area had bench seats that faced the rink. Likely means no rails for those three sides except for front where the snack bar, eating area, pro shop, etc.
One could not see the rink from the snack bar area, the coat room, pro shop, or the gaming arcade--you could only get to the rink via two entrances from the non-skating area. You had to be on the floor or the bench seats in the perimeter to actually see the rink. The rink was fitted with the standard teen "disco-look" common for its day, i.e., black celing, dark walls, diamond balls with spotlights, plenty of flashing lights. The rink did have those "what skate is it now" illuminated boards at both ends of the rink.
The Axle-Niles was the first rink I knew of that had a video display for many of videos associated with songs played during all skates; that came along about '83.
Word for word by Randall)
Exterior:
Originally it was White Futuristic of the 1970s appearance with curved corners, overhang. Very 1970s Future look. Modern for its day. It did look very much like many department stores look at any shopping malls. One comes to my mind is Sears building at Fayetteville Mall with the same curves and slight overhang but it was Sand color Cinder-Blocks built.
Maybe they were trying to have that look similar to BEst (on purpose and that is how they spelled their name) architectural look. It was beautiful design for this rink. I love the 1970s design. They were built in 1974 and that was the style that lasted till Savers Thrift store remodeled their look into 2000s look.
Yet, the curved corner remained!
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Maple ? wood with powdered resin applied on the floor prior to each session! Floor Layout: wood layout is unknown but lines toward center with M & R's logo in center. Had figure 8 layouts.
Building Size: N/A Built: N/A (Looked like 1970s style) Demolished: Still standing, now a thrift store..
Type of Building: Free-span Steel Truss Retail store-like stucco walled building (cinder blocks)
Roof: Flat Roof.
Operated: Axle Roller Rink: 1974 to August 4, 1984.
Reason for Closure: Several possibilities but it may have been financial. The water burst is only one tiny part and the popularity declined. The official reason is unknown..
Wanted: Information regarding actual date of opening for Axle. Rink size, building size, fate of building, type of building.
Any information and photos are appreciated. Contact Mark at [email protected]. Thank you!
Sources: Digital Library Research of Illinois Journal, Craig's Lost Chicago, Flickr, Randall S.,
© 2019 - 2020 Dead Rinks. All Rights Reserved.