Both of Pinterest. I believe the b/w photo on top was actually from the Rochester's Democrat and Chronicle.
Taken in 2009 and 2020.
Sharkey's 465 W. Commercial Street, East Rochester, NY
Sharkey's was a popular roller rink owned by the Sharkey Family. And a very large family. Both the parents and their 10 children worked at the rink. Quite a feast for them.
It was an opportunity for the family affair by working at the rink. It was closed for good because of insurance increases. That is why many rinks closed because of insurance premiums skyrocketed Same goes for many entertainment businesses back in the 1980s and 1990s due to insurances.
I personally felt bad for this family. All worked then all did not have a job because the rink closed.
They even had Christmas dinner at the rink. The family practically lived at the rink and the Sharkey Children even met their spouses at the rink and married them.
It was packed even from day one till the insurance killed the business. It was still popular and they were going to be a franchise of United Skates of America.
The rink center had two skating rinks, a fireplace, along with snack bar, and it was very home to the Sharkeys and perhaps the skaters are well. Home away from home feel at this rink. The fireplace sounded very centerpiece in this rink facility. And unusual because rarely you know rinks have them.
They ceased operations in 1986. Had the insurance cost did not increase, likely Sharkey's would have lasted much longer because it was still a popular rink. Likely would have lasted through passing the year 2000.
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Pour Concrete, Polyurethane coated, Blue coat Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: N/A Built: 1974
Type of Building: Free Span Cinderblock Building.
Roof: Flat
Acres: N/A
Operational: 1974-1986
Reason for Closure: Rising insurance premiums.
Information source: Democrat and Chronicle newspapers and Alan Morrell.
Exterior view Photo courtesy: East Rochester Historian Jim Burlingame.
Interior Photo courtesy: "JR" Sharkey.
© 2019 - 2020 Dead Rinks. All Rights Reserved.
It was an opportunity for the family affair by working at the rink. It was closed for good because of insurance increases. That is why many rinks closed because of insurance premiums skyrocketed Same goes for many entertainment businesses back in the 1980s and 1990s due to insurances.
I personally felt bad for this family. All worked then all did not have a job because the rink closed.
They even had Christmas dinner at the rink. The family practically lived at the rink and the Sharkey Children even met their spouses at the rink and married them.
It was packed even from day one till the insurance killed the business. It was still popular and they were going to be a franchise of United Skates of America.
The rink center had two skating rinks, a fireplace, along with snack bar, and it was very home to the Sharkeys and perhaps the skaters are well. Home away from home feel at this rink. The fireplace sounded very centerpiece in this rink facility. And unusual because rarely you know rinks have them.
They ceased operations in 1986. Had the insurance cost did not increase, likely Sharkey's would have lasted much longer because it was still a popular rink. Likely would have lasted through passing the year 2000.
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Pour Concrete, Polyurethane coated, Blue coat Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: N/A Built: 1974
Type of Building: Free Span Cinderblock Building.
Roof: Flat
Acres: N/A
Operational: 1974-1986
Reason for Closure: Rising insurance premiums.
Information source: Democrat and Chronicle newspapers and Alan Morrell.
Exterior view Photo courtesy: East Rochester Historian Jim Burlingame.
Interior Photo courtesy: "JR" Sharkey.
© 2019 - 2020 Dead Rinks. All Rights Reserved.