Courtesy of Commack Roller Rink Facebook Fan Page.
Photo Courtesy of Kevin Dalton/Commack RR Facebook fan page. Would like color version.
Courtesy of Margaret Smith. Awesome calendar!
Courtesy of Commack Roller Rink Facebook Fan Page. Wish there are color photos!
Commack Roller Rink 70 Veterans Memorial Highway, Commack, NY
Laces 70 Veterans Memorial Highway, Commack, NY
Laces 70 Veterans Memorial Highway, Commack, NY
This rink is not to be confused with the Commack Arena (which was properly called Long Island Arena). The two similarities have rinks but the Arena had ice rink. But also they had roller skating rink. It was confusion and a lawsuit was filed against the Arena business. See here.
The real Commack Roller Rink was at 70 Veterans Memorial Highway in Commack that has more modern looking facility with Gable roof, not arched roof which literally the Long Island Arena which was right next door! Although the rink was right next door to the Long Island Arena the information on the advertisement or business card.
The rink did not last long. It was opened in 1979 to 1981 but reopened as Laces, a franchise.
Not much stories related to this rink but several pictures were taken by skaters at the time are found on Facebook fan page. Sure is a wealth of information for its 3 to 4 years run of that rink.
The rink had interior with low ceiling with ceiling panels, star-burst lights with diamond ball which was quite common at the time at many rinks (see history of architecture page)...
The interior color appeared to be red or dark red which was vibrant at the time. Other pictures showed a lot of Royal Blue or Navy Blue. But I need confirmation.
The rink itself was likely Sky Blue coated Concrete Floor.
It felt like homely in the rink according to pictures of the rink. It arrived at the peak of skating but only to close at the downturn of skating in 1982. That was short three years run. However, it was reopened as Laces, a franchise in 1985. Its closure was not known. Likely shortly after by 1996 because it was demolished to become a shopping plaza including Target according to Patch.com website.
However, a report from Jason on longisland70skid.com website said he skated till 1993. Was that the year Laces closed shop? Pretty close to the 1996 tear downs. It is quite odd there is no information regarding Laces owned the Commack Roller Rink at the time. Anyone?
But the rich history of next door, the Long Island Arena was historic although it was designed as a ice rink. Never mind that. The Long Island Arena was known for the former home of the New York Nets before they quickly relocated to New Jersey to become New Jersey Nets (and now as Brooklyn Nets since they finally relocated back to Long Island). They relocated quickly because of the holes on the wooden floor due to ice rink platform under the basketball court. It caused problems.
Two presidential candidates, Richard Nixon and JFK were making their stops in the Arena during their campaign tours. Connection was not much help for the roller rink because it did not open till 1979 when they already have a flea market set up at the Arena for good until the Arena was closed and sold to a shopping center developer.
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Sky Blue Concrete Floor Layout: Standard
Building Size: N/A Built: N/A Demolished: 1996.
Type of Building: Free Span Steel Warehouse Building.
Roof: Gable
Acres: N/A
Operated:
Commack: 1979 to 1981 (according to Margaret Smith, a skater who skated there).
Laces: 1985 to 1993
Reason for Closure:
Commack: N/A
Laces: N/A
Wanted: color pictures of interior and exterior of the rink. Information regarding Laces from 1985 to its closure.
Sources: Facebook fan page, Patch.com, longisland70skid.com, and casemine.com.
© Dead Rinks. All Rights Reserved.
The real Commack Roller Rink was at 70 Veterans Memorial Highway in Commack that has more modern looking facility with Gable roof, not arched roof which literally the Long Island Arena which was right next door! Although the rink was right next door to the Long Island Arena the information on the advertisement or business card.
The rink did not last long. It was opened in 1979 to 1981 but reopened as Laces, a franchise.
Not much stories related to this rink but several pictures were taken by skaters at the time are found on Facebook fan page. Sure is a wealth of information for its 3 to 4 years run of that rink.
The rink had interior with low ceiling with ceiling panels, star-burst lights with diamond ball which was quite common at the time at many rinks (see history of architecture page)...
The interior color appeared to be red or dark red which was vibrant at the time. Other pictures showed a lot of Royal Blue or Navy Blue. But I need confirmation.
The rink itself was likely Sky Blue coated Concrete Floor.
It felt like homely in the rink according to pictures of the rink. It arrived at the peak of skating but only to close at the downturn of skating in 1982. That was short three years run. However, it was reopened as Laces, a franchise in 1985. Its closure was not known. Likely shortly after by 1996 because it was demolished to become a shopping plaza including Target according to Patch.com website.
However, a report from Jason on longisland70skid.com website said he skated till 1993. Was that the year Laces closed shop? Pretty close to the 1996 tear downs. It is quite odd there is no information regarding Laces owned the Commack Roller Rink at the time. Anyone?
But the rich history of next door, the Long Island Arena was historic although it was designed as a ice rink. Never mind that. The Long Island Arena was known for the former home of the New York Nets before they quickly relocated to New Jersey to become New Jersey Nets (and now as Brooklyn Nets since they finally relocated back to Long Island). They relocated quickly because of the holes on the wooden floor due to ice rink platform under the basketball court. It caused problems.
Two presidential candidates, Richard Nixon and JFK were making their stops in the Arena during their campaign tours. Connection was not much help for the roller rink because it did not open till 1979 when they already have a flea market set up at the Arena for good until the Arena was closed and sold to a shopping center developer.
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Sky Blue Concrete Floor Layout: Standard
Building Size: N/A Built: N/A Demolished: 1996.
Type of Building: Free Span Steel Warehouse Building.
Roof: Gable
Acres: N/A
Operated:
Commack: 1979 to 1981 (according to Margaret Smith, a skater who skated there).
Laces: 1985 to 1993
Reason for Closure:
Commack: N/A
Laces: N/A
Wanted: color pictures of interior and exterior of the rink. Information regarding Laces from 1985 to its closure.
Sources: Facebook fan page, Patch.com, longisland70skid.com, and casemine.com.
© Dead Rinks. All Rights Reserved.