Enfield Roller World 481 Enfield St, Enfield, CT. of Picture Enfield. Only known photo of Enfield Roller World before the management changed to New York Studio more of a.. Teen night club with dances instead of skating in 1985. The font appeared to be stencil lettering style and there is no "O" to "Roller" and "World." They were not clear in the photo but supposed to be a star in place of "O". Haha, can you spot a pay phone? Sure you can! Find it? Good. The building appeared to be very generic, plain, and looked aged fast at the time. It does appeared 1950ish style but they were opened in 1980. Was something else there before that? That photo is only photo Dead-Rinks have on this roller rink history website compared to a competitor who does NOT have it! Note/Update: The "O" were actually skates with wings. Source: Picture Enfield.
Enfield Roller World 481 Enfield St, Enfield, CT. It is a plaza now but this is where the skating rink used to be. The front door in this photo to compare to the top photo, it would be where you see this White SUV parked on the left side of photo sort of behind that Black pick up truck where the driver is getting out (or in) and his friend is waiting on other side. Whirly Ball doors were at different entrance. See the Fire Engine Red pick up truck is? Right there. Source: Google.
Enfield Roller World 481 Enfield St, Enfield, CT. Likely where the main doors of the former roller rink located. Whirly Ball closed that franchise as they closed a lot of them in mid 2010s and kept three instead of 18 locations. Taken in 2012 since it says Grand Opening on their window. The sign was not put up on the overhang canopy. Source: Whirly Ball.
Enfield Roller World 481 Enfield St, Enfield, CT. Noticed something is not right in the photo? Where is the ball between those 2 guys? Haha. Must be way up above the photograph that was cut off. But I posted this to show you what kind of unusual game this was.
LaCrosse? No, those look more like Jai Alai of sort and sadly like the rinks are going.. Jai Alai is facing the fate of extinction. Please see this article on Jai Alai. Source: Whirly Ball.
LaCrosse? No, those look more like Jai Alai of sort and sadly like the rinks are going.. Jai Alai is facing the fate of extinction. Please see this article on Jai Alai. Source: Whirly Ball.
Enfield Roller World 481 Enfield St, Enfield, CT. A basic advertisement shown for 12 November 1981. Very handmade because computers were very limited and printers at the time were dot matrix -- the large printer with roll of paper with holes on each side.. you remember those? I sure did. I still have a small bundle in my pile of different papers if I need it somewhere. Still good shape though! What I love is the font for Studio New York. Very stylish. This was for Teen Club, a non-alcoholic night club. This was simple and basic. Source: Picture Enfield.
Enfield Roller World 481 Enfield St, Enfield, CT
Studio New York 481 Enfield St, Enfield, CT
World Skating Center 481 Enfield St, Enfield, CT
Studio New York 481 Enfield St, Enfield, CT
World Skating Center 481 Enfield St, Enfield, CT
At 481 Enfield Street in Enfield, Connecticut were three rinks business names including Enfield Roller World, Studio New York, and World Skating Center.
Originally, this building was housed with two retail businesses! Bradlees and Stop and Shop grocery store. Then Budget Foods, a bargain grocery store housed there then closed. Then finally, Enfield Roller World and was renamed as Studio New York. Then under new management, World Skating Center.
It was housed in a shopping center. The rink was housed in the left side of the building. When you entered, you see them on the left. Perhaps. Or perhaps the entire facility was for the rink.
First was Enfield Roller World when they first opened in 1980 then 5 years later, the same management decided to change the customer base to young Teen or maybe Pre-teens to come for dancing. That was 1985 but short lived, closed and sold to World Skating Center management. World Skating Center returned the joy of roller skating back to that same floor that Enfield Roller World management that changed to teen dancing Studio New York.
After World Skating Center which was the final rink there, it became several businesses including once a Hyundai Dealership in entire building. (must be they relocated to another spot) It is a growing trend that former rinks and former shopping malls are converted to automotive dealerships. One of the world's largest is right here in Central New York at the former Penn Can Mall. It is a huge automobile dealership with several brands.
Anyway, back to this, they suddenly left and then they had a kiddie play center including bumper cars. Several businesses were there or are there now including The Scene, Serv-U store, Lia Used Cars (Hyundai dealership), and Whirly Ball but currently have Dollar General, a comic book store, Carr Tru-Value Hardware Store (without any lumbers), and a business name Crown Furniture. This is a high turnover business spot that should tell you that it is not a good business center but best for your investment to lease IF you can get enough business to come in so it is called High Risk investment in that plaza because of the turnovers.
One thing to note, the Whirly Ball in that same plaza during 2012 to 2015 (their website still operational, not a thing mentioned about COVID). It is clear they left it on running without being in business. The proof is that Whirly Ball was right next to Dollar General according to their website, that is gone according to Google Map.
I know why Whirly Ball went out of business. It is because it was not a bumber cars place. It was a hybrid sports mixing with Basketball, Lacrosse, and Bumper Cars all in one. I am sure it was difficult and because of the rules that people cannot come just for himself or herself but must have a team and a certain time. That would be a disastrously for a business plan since this was new concept and untried before in the 20th Century. Compared to roller skating in 1860s when James Plimpton invented more practical roller skate quads and people found this was fun and practical to skate upon and can do ball room dancing on wheels because they know how to do that and with the quads, it was easier to turn and quickly to learn It took me 3 to 4 weeks from starting with first skates on till I was able to go around the rink unaided.. With Whirly Ball, it was opposite because it was more complicated. No one wanted to start with complicated. Wanted more simple. That is why Whirly Ball flopped.
When World Skating Center closed, it became a night club, The Scene, that the town shut it down within a year. Perhaps trouble from the night club. It is common. There was a night club just opened just for a few months just 4 blocks from me and I live in a suburb residential neighborhood. I actually can hear with my hearing aids the loud music 4 blocks away! It was about half mile. So, it has to be noise, loud music, and patrons in the parking lot spending too much time outdoors. Yes, I saw them outside.
Right after that, the Serve- U wanted to open a storage facility so they bought the building and started to convert but apparently short lived. Then several other businesses including that kiddie fun center, Whirly Ball which was defunct. Serve-U went out of business (closed all stores) in 2001, apparently sold the building as well. This is why you see stores there now.
Like I said, high turnover with many businesses in that plaza. Seemly to attract dead-stores and dead-rinks. Can you name them all that are out of business?
Update! -- (10 February 2022.)
I received an email today regarding former rink. Some of the contents are edited. Here is what he has to say --
Nice site! A few comments on Enfield Roller World, having spent a number of Saturdays and birthday parties there in my youth -
- The two Os in the old sign pic are actually stylized roller skates! IIRC they had wings on them or something to make them look speedy? But you can see the two little wheels on both Os - in that old pic it actually looks like two shopping carts, which is somewhat apropos.
- Roller World did indeed only take up half the building in its heyday - I forget what was on the other side. The ceilings were wonderfully high.
- I remember the Studio New York ad - it being on Fridays and the ad being for 11/19, it was 1982.
- exterior - I believe all that darkness in the old b/w photo was wood panels, painted brown (I assume they simply covered the windows rather than remove them).
- When you entered the rink was on the right with the long edges going from front to back. DJ booth at the front back corner. The door to the right of the sign in the b/w pic was typically only opened at the end of a skate session to let light in and clear people out. There was a large area with freestanding hexagonal bench seats to sit and put on your skates on the left side of the space and I believe a bunch of tables. On the left wall - lockers, a small arcade (about 12 games), then the bathrooms I believe? Towards the back was a little area with tables for parties to the left of the snack bar, which was at the left rear of the space. I can smell that peculiar combination of popcorn, hot dogs, fruit punch, and cotton candy to this day.
- Studio New York is notable for hosting a number of seminal hardcore bands back in the day - see: [link added below in Sources section].
- Bradlees and Stop & Shop had cleared out to take a new, larger space down on Route 5 at 1559 King St. (didn’t work, those locations closed quickly).
- I do not unfortunately remember his name, but a DJ from WAQY in Springfield, MA regularly DJd Saturday mornings in the early eighties.
That’s all I’ve got - we moved towns in 1985 and that was the end of our visits.
Cheers,
Jim.
The Interior.
When you entered the rink was on the right with the long edges going from front to back. DJ booth at the front back corner. The door to the right of the sign in the b/w pic was typically only opened at the end of a skate session to let light in and clear people out. There was a large area with freestanding hexagonal bench seats to sit and put on your skates on the left side of the space and I believe a bunch of tables. On the left wall - lockers, a small arcade (about 12 games), then the bathrooms I believe? Towards the back was a little area with tables for parties to the left of the snack bar, which was at the left rear of the space. I can smell that peculiar combination of popcorn, hot dogs, fruit punch, and cotton candy to this day. - Jim.
The Exterior.
The original look is unknown because of the two stores. The Stop and Shop and Bradlees were housed at that location then later, the skating rink took over. It appeared to be plain. The photo does not show what material. But with the email today.. read next paragraph and on.
Update! -- 10 February 2022.
This is what I received information in the email today. Interesting story about the "O" in the name, Roller World on the exterior front wall. This is what Jim has to say --
- the two Os in the old sign pic are actually stylized roller skates! IIRC they had wings on them or something to make them look speedy? But you can see the two little wheels on both Os - in that old pic it actually looks like two shopping carts, which is somewhat apropos.
- I believe all that darkness in the old b/w photo was wood panels, painted brown (I assume they simply covered the windows rather than remove them).
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: N/A. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: 60,355 SF (likely rink did not occupy entire building). (Actual is unknown).
Built: Likely 1950s Renovation: N/A. Demolished: Still standing
Type of Building: Columns Supported Steel Truss Cinderblocks built Plaza - like Building.
Roof: Flat.
Acres: 4.9900 Acres.
Operated: 1980 to 1991. (overall)
Enfield Roller World: 1980 to (1987.)
Studio New York: N/A to 1987.
World Skating Center: Filed on June 10, 1987, opened in 1987? to 1991.
(The Scene Night Club: 1991 to 1992)
(Serv-U store: 1993 to 2001)
(Used cars/Hyundai: N/A).
(Whirly Ball: 2012 to 2015)
(Carr Hardware: 2015 to Present.)
Many businesses come and go -since 2012.
Reason for Closure: .
Enfield Roller World: Management changed business plan into a Pre-Teen/Teen Dance Night Club, Studio New York.
Studio New York: (night club for teens) N/A.
World Skating Center: N/A.
The Scene Night Club: Town shut it down
Serv-U store: Company wide went out of business.
Used cars/Hyundai: N/A.
Whirly Ball: N/A. Likely downsizing, at one time, there were 18 centers by 2012, now only 3 open with 2 new grand opening soon elsewhere.
Many businesses come and go -since 2012.
Carr Hardware: Still Operational.
Wanted: Information regarding actual dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos.
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources:
Whirly Ball
Loop Net
The Hartford-Courant - (March 9, 1993) Serve U wishes to convert former rink
Patch - Whirly Ball relocated to former rink
Whirly Ball national company
Patch - Enfield Roller World
Patch - About Bradlees and Stop and Shop stores where the rink was
Bradlees - company website archives
Google Map
Email (10 February 2022)
I95 - Radio talking about Studio NY and the skating rink.
Date of Issue: 2020.
Update: 10 February 2022.
For Office Only: 5.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.
Originally, this building was housed with two retail businesses! Bradlees and Stop and Shop grocery store. Then Budget Foods, a bargain grocery store housed there then closed. Then finally, Enfield Roller World and was renamed as Studio New York. Then under new management, World Skating Center.
It was housed in a shopping center. The rink was housed in the left side of the building. When you entered, you see them on the left. Perhaps. Or perhaps the entire facility was for the rink.
First was Enfield Roller World when they first opened in 1980 then 5 years later, the same management decided to change the customer base to young Teen or maybe Pre-teens to come for dancing. That was 1985 but short lived, closed and sold to World Skating Center management. World Skating Center returned the joy of roller skating back to that same floor that Enfield Roller World management that changed to teen dancing Studio New York.
After World Skating Center which was the final rink there, it became several businesses including once a Hyundai Dealership in entire building. (must be they relocated to another spot) It is a growing trend that former rinks and former shopping malls are converted to automotive dealerships. One of the world's largest is right here in Central New York at the former Penn Can Mall. It is a huge automobile dealership with several brands.
Anyway, back to this, they suddenly left and then they had a kiddie play center including bumper cars. Several businesses were there or are there now including The Scene, Serv-U store, Lia Used Cars (Hyundai dealership), and Whirly Ball but currently have Dollar General, a comic book store, Carr Tru-Value Hardware Store (without any lumbers), and a business name Crown Furniture. This is a high turnover business spot that should tell you that it is not a good business center but best for your investment to lease IF you can get enough business to come in so it is called High Risk investment in that plaza because of the turnovers.
One thing to note, the Whirly Ball in that same plaza during 2012 to 2015 (their website still operational, not a thing mentioned about COVID). It is clear they left it on running without being in business. The proof is that Whirly Ball was right next to Dollar General according to their website, that is gone according to Google Map.
I know why Whirly Ball went out of business. It is because it was not a bumber cars place. It was a hybrid sports mixing with Basketball, Lacrosse, and Bumper Cars all in one. I am sure it was difficult and because of the rules that people cannot come just for himself or herself but must have a team and a certain time. That would be a disastrously for a business plan since this was new concept and untried before in the 20th Century. Compared to roller skating in 1860s when James Plimpton invented more practical roller skate quads and people found this was fun and practical to skate upon and can do ball room dancing on wheels because they know how to do that and with the quads, it was easier to turn and quickly to learn It took me 3 to 4 weeks from starting with first skates on till I was able to go around the rink unaided.. With Whirly Ball, it was opposite because it was more complicated. No one wanted to start with complicated. Wanted more simple. That is why Whirly Ball flopped.
When World Skating Center closed, it became a night club, The Scene, that the town shut it down within a year. Perhaps trouble from the night club. It is common. There was a night club just opened just for a few months just 4 blocks from me and I live in a suburb residential neighborhood. I actually can hear with my hearing aids the loud music 4 blocks away! It was about half mile. So, it has to be noise, loud music, and patrons in the parking lot spending too much time outdoors. Yes, I saw them outside.
Right after that, the Serve- U wanted to open a storage facility so they bought the building and started to convert but apparently short lived. Then several other businesses including that kiddie fun center, Whirly Ball which was defunct. Serve-U went out of business (closed all stores) in 2001, apparently sold the building as well. This is why you see stores there now.
Like I said, high turnover with many businesses in that plaza. Seemly to attract dead-stores and dead-rinks. Can you name them all that are out of business?
Update! -- (10 February 2022.)
I received an email today regarding former rink. Some of the contents are edited. Here is what he has to say --
Nice site! A few comments on Enfield Roller World, having spent a number of Saturdays and birthday parties there in my youth -
- The two Os in the old sign pic are actually stylized roller skates! IIRC they had wings on them or something to make them look speedy? But you can see the two little wheels on both Os - in that old pic it actually looks like two shopping carts, which is somewhat apropos.
- Roller World did indeed only take up half the building in its heyday - I forget what was on the other side. The ceilings were wonderfully high.
- I remember the Studio New York ad - it being on Fridays and the ad being for 11/19, it was 1982.
- exterior - I believe all that darkness in the old b/w photo was wood panels, painted brown (I assume they simply covered the windows rather than remove them).
- When you entered the rink was on the right with the long edges going from front to back. DJ booth at the front back corner. The door to the right of the sign in the b/w pic was typically only opened at the end of a skate session to let light in and clear people out. There was a large area with freestanding hexagonal bench seats to sit and put on your skates on the left side of the space and I believe a bunch of tables. On the left wall - lockers, a small arcade (about 12 games), then the bathrooms I believe? Towards the back was a little area with tables for parties to the left of the snack bar, which was at the left rear of the space. I can smell that peculiar combination of popcorn, hot dogs, fruit punch, and cotton candy to this day.
- Studio New York is notable for hosting a number of seminal hardcore bands back in the day - see: [link added below in Sources section].
- Bradlees and Stop & Shop had cleared out to take a new, larger space down on Route 5 at 1559 King St. (didn’t work, those locations closed quickly).
- I do not unfortunately remember his name, but a DJ from WAQY in Springfield, MA regularly DJd Saturday mornings in the early eighties.
That’s all I’ve got - we moved towns in 1985 and that was the end of our visits.
Cheers,
Jim.
The Interior.
When you entered the rink was on the right with the long edges going from front to back. DJ booth at the front back corner. The door to the right of the sign in the b/w pic was typically only opened at the end of a skate session to let light in and clear people out. There was a large area with freestanding hexagonal bench seats to sit and put on your skates on the left side of the space and I believe a bunch of tables. On the left wall - lockers, a small arcade (about 12 games), then the bathrooms I believe? Towards the back was a little area with tables for parties to the left of the snack bar, which was at the left rear of the space. I can smell that peculiar combination of popcorn, hot dogs, fruit punch, and cotton candy to this day. - Jim.
The Exterior.
The original look is unknown because of the two stores. The Stop and Shop and Bradlees were housed at that location then later, the skating rink took over. It appeared to be plain. The photo does not show what material. But with the email today.. read next paragraph and on.
Update! -- 10 February 2022.
This is what I received information in the email today. Interesting story about the "O" in the name, Roller World on the exterior front wall. This is what Jim has to say --
- the two Os in the old sign pic are actually stylized roller skates! IIRC they had wings on them or something to make them look speedy? But you can see the two little wheels on both Os - in that old pic it actually looks like two shopping carts, which is somewhat apropos.
- I believe all that darkness in the old b/w photo was wood panels, painted brown (I assume they simply covered the windows rather than remove them).
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: N/A. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: 60,355 SF (likely rink did not occupy entire building). (Actual is unknown).
Built: Likely 1950s Renovation: N/A. Demolished: Still standing
Type of Building: Columns Supported Steel Truss Cinderblocks built Plaza - like Building.
Roof: Flat.
Acres: 4.9900 Acres.
Operated: 1980 to 1991. (overall)
Enfield Roller World: 1980 to (1987.)
Studio New York: N/A to 1987.
World Skating Center: Filed on June 10, 1987, opened in 1987? to 1991.
(The Scene Night Club: 1991 to 1992)
(Serv-U store: 1993 to 2001)
(Used cars/Hyundai: N/A).
(Whirly Ball: 2012 to 2015)
(Carr Hardware: 2015 to Present.)
Many businesses come and go -since 2012.
Reason for Closure: .
Enfield Roller World: Management changed business plan into a Pre-Teen/Teen Dance Night Club, Studio New York.
Studio New York: (night club for teens) N/A.
World Skating Center: N/A.
The Scene Night Club: Town shut it down
Serv-U store: Company wide went out of business.
Used cars/Hyundai: N/A.
Whirly Ball: N/A. Likely downsizing, at one time, there were 18 centers by 2012, now only 3 open with 2 new grand opening soon elsewhere.
Many businesses come and go -since 2012.
Carr Hardware: Still Operational.
Wanted: Information regarding actual dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos.
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources:
Whirly Ball
Loop Net
The Hartford-Courant - (March 9, 1993) Serve U wishes to convert former rink
Patch - Whirly Ball relocated to former rink
Whirly Ball national company
Patch - Enfield Roller World
Patch - About Bradlees and Stop and Shop stores where the rink was
Bradlees - company website archives
Google Map
Email (10 February 2022)
I95 - Radio talking about Studio NY and the skating rink.
Date of Issue: 2020.
Update: 10 February 2022.
For Office Only: 5.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.