Empire Roller Disco 200 Empire Boulevard, Brooklyn, NY. Source: Empire Roller Skating Center.
Empire Roller Skating Center 200 Empire Boulevard, Brooklyn, NY. Source: Empire Roller Skating Center.
Empire Roller Skating Center 200 Empire Boulevard, Brooklyn, NY. Beautiful at night. And painted in Yellow Green! Source: Empire Roller Skating Center.
Empire Roller Skating Center 200 Empire Boulevard, Brooklyn, NY. Beautiful at night. And painted in Yellow Green! Source: Empire Roller Skating Center.
Empire Roller Skating Center 200 Empire Boulevard, Brooklyn, NY. Indeed, the homeplace of Roller Disco that was discovered at this very rink. Source: Empire Roller Skating Center.
Empire Roller Skating Center 200 Empire Boulevard, Brooklyn, NY. Source: Empire Roller Skating Center.
Empire Rollerdrome 200 Empire Boulevard, Brooklyn, NY. Source: Empire Roller Skating Center.
Empire Rollerdrome 200 Empire Boulevard, Brooklyn, NY. As viewed in 2012. Source: Google.
Empire Roller Skating Center 200 Empire Boulevard, Brooklyn, NY. As viewed in 2005. Note the bottom of the website saying it was not affiliated with United Skates of America, Inc. anymore. Source: Google.
Empire Roller Skating Center 200 Empire Boulevard, Brooklyn, NY. Final website view in 2006. Source: Google.
Empire Roller Skating Center 200 Empire Boulevard, Brooklyn, NY. Excellent history of this rink! I love it! Highly recommend to view.. Sorry for missing this event showing this exhibit at the City Reliquary Museum. If they have anything, please do ask and they can show you. I hope. Source: YouTube/The City Reliquary Museum
Empire Roller Skating Center 200 Empire Boulevard, Brooklyn, NY. Good video in 1980s. Source: YouTube/Elmo 'Magic' Christian.
Brooklyn Roller Rink 200 Empire Boulevard, Brooklyn, NY
Empire Rollerdrome 200 Empire Boulevard, Brooklyn, NY
Empire Roller Disco 200 Empire Boulevard, Brooklyn, NY
United Skates of America 200 Empire Boulevard, Brooklyn, NY
Empire Roller Skating Center 200 Empire Boulevard, Brooklyn, NY
Empire Rollerdrome 200 Empire Boulevard, Brooklyn, NY
Empire Roller Disco 200 Empire Boulevard, Brooklyn, NY
United Skates of America 200 Empire Boulevard, Brooklyn, NY
Empire Roller Skating Center 200 Empire Boulevard, Brooklyn, NY
Empire Roller Skating Center was one of well-known roller rink in Brooklyn where they say they invented roller disco. It had a neon sign inside saying, "Empire, Birthplace of the Roller Disco." There are many YouTube videos and articles regarding that rink and showing roller disco craze as well. It was a popular stable but it closed for some reason. This was the flagship rink of all rinks. The King of all rinks. Kind of like Walt Disney World is to theme parks, Empire was to all rinks.
The Swanson family in 1941 opened this rink originally called Empire Rollerdrome on what it was once a parking lot called, Ebbet's Field Parking Garage. The family converted the garage into the rink and they had speakers bought from the 1939 New York World's Fair. They used expensive good maple wood. The rink later sold to Sonny Durante, who in turn sold it to brothers Henry and Hector Abrami in 1956.
However, the NY Magazine mentioned it was Brooklyn Roller Rink that was originally opened there before Empire Rollerdrome.
The Abrami Brothers were creative and savvy business owners who created more than just a rink. They had boxing matches, mini-golf, and hosted first New York State Skating Championship in 1957. One of the pioneers in modern entertainment center, not just skating center, entertainment center which houses more than just one entertainment activity.
In 1960s this was where the roller disco craze began. By 1970s, disco craze was in and the rink was renamed as Empire Roller Disco. However, both names Empire Rollerdrome and Empire Roller Disco was still on the exterior. Two names!?
Because it was already starting to have roller disco in 1960s, the 1970s craze really began at Empire that they replaced the tradition organ music and installed a huge 20,000 watts system of speakers in 1980 and in 1970s, a live-DJ style hosting music with albums and tapes. The new system was considered one of the best in the nation.
It was so popular that celebrities came to skate. Like what standard disco did for Studio 54, the home of disco dance, Empire capitalized that with roller disco. The exterior was somewhat similar to Studio 54 while the interior had Californian/Floridian look including fake palm trees, and neon lights.
Because of this very rink, roller skating became popular everywhere quickly. Likely by 1976, it was peaked. It lasted till likely around the year 1980 and slowly dying. Although for many rinks, in-line skates helped rebooted popularity to a mini revival for a couple of years then it slowed down again.
Then in 1998, the daughter of one of the Abrami Brothers managed the rink was ill and shut down Empire for the first time. Two years later, United Skates of America, a chain of rinks purchased Empire and translated into not just a rink, but a family entertainment center. Empire was once again opened in the year 2000. Only it was closed again for good in April 23, 2007. The chain, United Skates of America had a lot of closure. They were the Sears department stores of roller rink which Sears had a lot of rounds of closures of Kmart and Sears.
I recalled reading another article about a decade ago why Empire closed due to crimes or trouble at the rink but I cannot vetted this to be true fact. Anyone know why the popular famous rink closed?
UPDATE: I found the article at CrownHeights.info website that a gunman shot 4 people at the rink on January 4th, 2007. The rink closed merely 3 and half months later. Likely because of the shooting, parents feared for their children and not go there. Second of all, because of the shooting, adults feared another incident could occurred. This is the pattern businesses usually close because of a crime. It happened to Nowhere City, a night club in DeWitt, NY where two gangs fought over a girl and brought 56 police cars full of officers. The town wanted it shut and it was shut down. And a night club in same town, Country Club, a 2 story night club where a major stabbing and fight occurred and about two months later, they closed for good.
Since I never been there, from what I read in articles, it sounded like the rink should have stayed open. Unfortunately it was sold and the new owner wanted to convert to a storage facility. The blame should really be on final owner because they did not want to preserve this historic rink because it should be landmarked because of the history involved including many firsts at that rink including Disco, roller disco, live DJ, and the uniqueness of this rink. Franchise companies including United Skates of America only care about money. Evidence can be seen with chains like McDonalds, Camping World/Good Sam, Walmart, and Walgreens.
U.S.A. sold it to the last owner in around 2000s.
Because of this major loss, Brooklyn built two outdoor skating parks. One by the Brooklyn Bridge that is operational (skaters complained that the floor is horrible however the view is awesome from the rink) and the other one with very unique design that has royal blue ceiling and curved lights above the rink and can be connected to the exterior rink to be ice rink in winters. Spring to fall, the rink-under-canopy becomes roller rink and the exterior rink is a water foundation.
Interior:
This rink had a large rink with the size of 300' x 100' (30,000 Square Feet) with Hardwood Maple which were sanded and coated with Roll-On floor finish for better traction. Twice a week they’re mopped with water to keep the Roll-On intact, then dry-mopped before every skate session. (NY Magazine)
The original floor was different according to postcards. It was entirely different. The original was that size but later reduced to house BINGO room which later converted to practice/beginners floor.
They renovated much in 1954 by shortened the rink for the BINGO. But later, changed again as said in last paragah..
Exterior:
Free Span Steel Warehouse-style Cinderblock Building with Flatted Roof.
Stats:
Size: 300' x 100' rink (30,000 Square Feet). Floor: Maple, Urethane coated, Clear coated.
Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: N/A Built: 1941. Demolished: 2007. Now a storage facility.
Type of Building: Free Span Steel Warehouse-style Cinderblock Building.
Roof: Flatted.
Acres: N/A
Operational: 1941 to April 23, 2007
Brooklyn Roller Rink: 1941-1941?
Empire Rollerdrome: 1941 - 1970s
Empire Roller Disco: 1970s - 1998
United Skates of America: 1998 - 2000
Empire Roller Skating Center: 2000 - April 23, 2007
Reason for Closure:
Brooklyn Roller Rink: N/A.
Empire Rollerdrome: Just name changed to Empire Roller Disco
Empire Roller Disco: Owner was ill and shut down in 1998 and sold to United Skates of America.
United Skates of America: Likely poor profits. I think I figured out why.
Empire Roller Skating Center: Greed by U.S.A. (my opinion) and sold to storage company.
Source:
Place Matters.
The New Yorker.
Billboard - 6 March 1948.
NY Magazine - About the rink closing. Wealth of history. Said it was once called Brooklyn Roller Rink!
Worth to visit:
None. Now it is a large building for storages.
DISCLAIMER:
Dead-Rinks and Mark Falso are not responsible for your physical and legal injuries you may have caused. Please always obey laws and regulations and property owner's signs. Some states allow purple paint on fence which means they even have guns on their property and have rights to shoot you. Please DO NOT attempt to enter property without permission!
For abandoned rinks, after you receive permission, do WEAR safety OSHA equipment including a safety glasses, pair of safety gloves, an orange vest or a jacket, and a construction helmet.
Thank you for understanding.
Date of issue: January 2019
Updated: 12 June 2022.
For office use only: 10/2. If any removal.. I have evident!
Disclaimer: The contents including words and photos above on this page and/or on any pages are purely educational entertainment purposes only. I provide what information from other websites, skaters, and operators and it may end up with different results between two (or more) sources. It is not our responsible for errors we caused. All sources are shown on each page. All opinions and statements of mine are also stated and are for purely educational entertainment only.
Rinks that are closed are considered dead. Rinks that are/were sold and with new management names new name(s), the former are considered dead. Previous operating rink that closed but came back years later, are considered dead because the reopening is considered rebooted, nothing to do with the former.
The "For Office Only" is the actual count for something and for a good reason. All secret legally.
All photos you submitted or we retrieved becomes property of Dead-Rinks and are watermarked but they are credited to you (or where the source is from). Thank you for understanding. To understand more about this, please go to this page: Dead-Rinks List.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 to 16. Deut. 32:7
The Swanson family in 1941 opened this rink originally called Empire Rollerdrome on what it was once a parking lot called, Ebbet's Field Parking Garage. The family converted the garage into the rink and they had speakers bought from the 1939 New York World's Fair. They used expensive good maple wood. The rink later sold to Sonny Durante, who in turn sold it to brothers Henry and Hector Abrami in 1956.
However, the NY Magazine mentioned it was Brooklyn Roller Rink that was originally opened there before Empire Rollerdrome.
The Abrami Brothers were creative and savvy business owners who created more than just a rink. They had boxing matches, mini-golf, and hosted first New York State Skating Championship in 1957. One of the pioneers in modern entertainment center, not just skating center, entertainment center which houses more than just one entertainment activity.
In 1960s this was where the roller disco craze began. By 1970s, disco craze was in and the rink was renamed as Empire Roller Disco. However, both names Empire Rollerdrome and Empire Roller Disco was still on the exterior. Two names!?
Because it was already starting to have roller disco in 1960s, the 1970s craze really began at Empire that they replaced the tradition organ music and installed a huge 20,000 watts system of speakers in 1980 and in 1970s, a live-DJ style hosting music with albums and tapes. The new system was considered one of the best in the nation.
It was so popular that celebrities came to skate. Like what standard disco did for Studio 54, the home of disco dance, Empire capitalized that with roller disco. The exterior was somewhat similar to Studio 54 while the interior had Californian/Floridian look including fake palm trees, and neon lights.
Because of this very rink, roller skating became popular everywhere quickly. Likely by 1976, it was peaked. It lasted till likely around the year 1980 and slowly dying. Although for many rinks, in-line skates helped rebooted popularity to a mini revival for a couple of years then it slowed down again.
Then in 1998, the daughter of one of the Abrami Brothers managed the rink was ill and shut down Empire for the first time. Two years later, United Skates of America, a chain of rinks purchased Empire and translated into not just a rink, but a family entertainment center. Empire was once again opened in the year 2000. Only it was closed again for good in April 23, 2007. The chain, United Skates of America had a lot of closure. They were the Sears department stores of roller rink which Sears had a lot of rounds of closures of Kmart and Sears.
I recalled reading another article about a decade ago why Empire closed due to crimes or trouble at the rink but I cannot vetted this to be true fact. Anyone know why the popular famous rink closed?
UPDATE: I found the article at CrownHeights.info website that a gunman shot 4 people at the rink on January 4th, 2007. The rink closed merely 3 and half months later. Likely because of the shooting, parents feared for their children and not go there. Second of all, because of the shooting, adults feared another incident could occurred. This is the pattern businesses usually close because of a crime. It happened to Nowhere City, a night club in DeWitt, NY where two gangs fought over a girl and brought 56 police cars full of officers. The town wanted it shut and it was shut down. And a night club in same town, Country Club, a 2 story night club where a major stabbing and fight occurred and about two months later, they closed for good.
Since I never been there, from what I read in articles, it sounded like the rink should have stayed open. Unfortunately it was sold and the new owner wanted to convert to a storage facility. The blame should really be on final owner because they did not want to preserve this historic rink because it should be landmarked because of the history involved including many firsts at that rink including Disco, roller disco, live DJ, and the uniqueness of this rink. Franchise companies including United Skates of America only care about money. Evidence can be seen with chains like McDonalds, Camping World/Good Sam, Walmart, and Walgreens.
U.S.A. sold it to the last owner in around 2000s.
Because of this major loss, Brooklyn built two outdoor skating parks. One by the Brooklyn Bridge that is operational (skaters complained that the floor is horrible however the view is awesome from the rink) and the other one with very unique design that has royal blue ceiling and curved lights above the rink and can be connected to the exterior rink to be ice rink in winters. Spring to fall, the rink-under-canopy becomes roller rink and the exterior rink is a water foundation.
Interior:
This rink had a large rink with the size of 300' x 100' (30,000 Square Feet) with Hardwood Maple which were sanded and coated with Roll-On floor finish for better traction. Twice a week they’re mopped with water to keep the Roll-On intact, then dry-mopped before every skate session. (NY Magazine)
The original floor was different according to postcards. It was entirely different. The original was that size but later reduced to house BINGO room which later converted to practice/beginners floor.
They renovated much in 1954 by shortened the rink for the BINGO. But later, changed again as said in last paragah..
Exterior:
Free Span Steel Warehouse-style Cinderblock Building with Flatted Roof.
Stats:
Size: 300' x 100' rink (30,000 Square Feet). Floor: Maple, Urethane coated, Clear coated.
Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: N/A Built: 1941. Demolished: 2007. Now a storage facility.
Type of Building: Free Span Steel Warehouse-style Cinderblock Building.
Roof: Flatted.
Acres: N/A
Operational: 1941 to April 23, 2007
Brooklyn Roller Rink: 1941-1941?
Empire Rollerdrome: 1941 - 1970s
Empire Roller Disco: 1970s - 1998
United Skates of America: 1998 - 2000
Empire Roller Skating Center: 2000 - April 23, 2007
Reason for Closure:
Brooklyn Roller Rink: N/A.
Empire Rollerdrome: Just name changed to Empire Roller Disco
Empire Roller Disco: Owner was ill and shut down in 1998 and sold to United Skates of America.
United Skates of America: Likely poor profits. I think I figured out why.
Empire Roller Skating Center: Greed by U.S.A. (my opinion) and sold to storage company.
Source:
Place Matters.
The New Yorker.
Billboard - 6 March 1948.
NY Magazine - About the rink closing. Wealth of history. Said it was once called Brooklyn Roller Rink!
Worth to visit:
None. Now it is a large building for storages.
DISCLAIMER:
Dead-Rinks and Mark Falso are not responsible for your physical and legal injuries you may have caused. Please always obey laws and regulations and property owner's signs. Some states allow purple paint on fence which means they even have guns on their property and have rights to shoot you. Please DO NOT attempt to enter property without permission!
For abandoned rinks, after you receive permission, do WEAR safety OSHA equipment including a safety glasses, pair of safety gloves, an orange vest or a jacket, and a construction helmet.
Thank you for understanding.
Date of issue: January 2019
Updated: 12 June 2022.
For office use only: 10/2. If any removal.. I have evident!
Disclaimer: The contents including words and photos above on this page and/or on any pages are purely educational entertainment purposes only. I provide what information from other websites, skaters, and operators and it may end up with different results between two (or more) sources. It is not our responsible for errors we caused. All sources are shown on each page. All opinions and statements of mine are also stated and are for purely educational entertainment only.
Rinks that are closed are considered dead. Rinks that are/were sold and with new management names new name(s), the former are considered dead. Previous operating rink that closed but came back years later, are considered dead because the reopening is considered rebooted, nothing to do with the former.
The "For Office Only" is the actual count for something and for a good reason. All secret legally.
All photos you submitted or we retrieved becomes property of Dead-Rinks and are watermarked but they are credited to you (or where the source is from). Thank you for understanding. To understand more about this, please go to this page: Dead-Rinks List.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 to 16. Deut. 32:7