Courtesy of Google Map dated October 2012 and January 2019 respectively. I do not have any photos of the rink. There is, however, a 2007 photo from Google Map and it is so bad. Very blurred. Google needs to redo those old 2007 photos and they can repair it and make it sharper using digital technology. It would have the name of the rink on where Monkey Joe's sign is located. Originally they ahd a canopy designed which looks very much like a Starlite/Sparkles Rinks were like.It makes me think.. was it a copy or was it really a Starlite/Sparkles rink before Skatetime USA operated there in 1980? Only time will tell until you tell us.
Courtesy of Southpaw Frizzell. Sorry for the grainy picture. It was recorded on VHS or even Beta format. Aired December 30, 1981 on WTOC (an affiliation of CBS).
Skatetime U S A 311 Eisenhower Drive, Savannah, GA
Skatetime U S A was established in 1980 at 311 Eisenhower Drive, Savannah, GA which was on a corner. Now, it is part Monkey Joe's and a law firm right next to it. There were several businesses operating after the rink closed right next to the Monkey Joe's Playhouse center. But those are gone too.
The rink first established by registered on June 2, 1980 by David Ritter. Then they closed and sold in 1986. Monkey Joe's is located in the building which is an indoor play center with bounce houses.
They had a sister rink, Skatetime U S A in Brunswick, GA which was opened 4 years prior to the Savannah location.
Mark Carpenter of Savannah Skate Inn explained this one a bit--
Skatetime USA and Savannah Skate Inn (My Rink) we’re in competition against each other we both opened around the same time you got it Right Dave Ritter owned it but they were only in business 7 years when they went out of business it was actually 1986 I remember it well because we bought everything in that building down to the popcorn machine.
Truth be told it was in a better area of Savannah than I was and I always liked the building better.
Reason for closing:
During most of the 70s older adults between 18 to 30 kept Rinks open across the US.
But when the 80s came it turned into a kid business at least in the south it did. Skatetime never embraced it. The same 100 Regulars would come and basically run the rink ran right at the time they should have put me out of business with the area they were in verses mine
I remember saying once I wish I could put 14 and under only on the door that’s where the money was up until today with the exception of cascades in Atlanta I don’t know of a rink that depends on adult or upper teen business at all
-- Mark Carpenter, email, August 28, 2020.
I agree with you, Mark. The neighborhood does look better and more focused on businesses. And the building looked better. And I agree with you about the decades and what rinks have done. There are now Roller Derby track centers that they buy rinks that are closed up and there are just maybe a couple of adults-only rinks (one being still active in Staten Island in New York City area serving alcoholic beverages).
The Interior.
N/A. Likely for Monkey Joe's, they kept the carpet, a carryover from the rink and no wonder people said in several pro-con comments sites (Yelp, Facebook, and TripAdvisor) said the place really needs renovation inside especially the carpet. I agree with the commentators because they are quite in common explaining the common problem. Therefore, I recommend Jungle Joe's needs to focus on renovations inside. And please cover that outlet! They are exposed as well. That is a health code violation. Since the shut down in March 2020, did they rip out old carpet and put new one on? We will wait and see what commentators are saying. If not, likely before 2022, this facility will close. JUST AN OPINION. Why? If no renovations, the health code and building inspectors will demand changes to meet post-COVID requirements. I recommend carpetiles because of children spilled or God forbid, vomits, it can be replaced easily and cheaper. Just take out and throw out damaged carpetiles and replace with new ones. Or put down padded lamination on the floor which can be bleached washed and clean. Monkey Joe's has been around for a while. If that is true, as of 2020, 11 years old carpet? Yuck.
The Exterior.
I have no idea what the original look like. Perhaps it would have been similar to the renovated version that after the rink closed and Monkey Joe's kept the look until a new tenant--the law firm came in and that pooled in quite a bit of money making the whole complex more modern in the Graying of America Modernism look. The original was showing Tan-colored all Steel Walled look with Dark Brown Brick veneer. Since I have no photo, I will be using the October 2012 edition photograph from Google Map.
They renovated sometimes after 2016 because that was the last time it looked that way before the law firm boasted the appearance into what they look now. See both photographs above. The newer one makes the building look shorter, taller, and having said, it appeared smaller.
On where Monkey Joe's main admission, there was a canopy before the renovations occurred to remove that canopy, the apperance of that building looked more like a Starlite, Sparkles, or even Starburst Skate Center would be like. It was a little shorter though but the looks really gets it.
The renovated looked more highly professional than relaxed form of architecture. The new one looked more constraint that it makes it look more like a professional office plaza.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: N/A. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: 1980?. Demolished: Renovated twice- after rink closed and recent times.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Plaza-like Building (current).
Roof: Gable (fake flat)
Acres: N/A.
Operated:
Skateland U S A: June 2, 1980 to 1986.
Reason for Closure:
Skateland U S A: See above.
Wanted: Information regarding photos of interior and exterior, exact dates of open and closed and why closed?
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Bizapedia, Georgia Register, Yelp - Monkey Joe's, Open Corporation - Skateland U S A,
Manta - Monkey Joe's,
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved.
The rink first established by registered on June 2, 1980 by David Ritter. Then they closed and sold in 1986. Monkey Joe's is located in the building which is an indoor play center with bounce houses.
They had a sister rink, Skatetime U S A in Brunswick, GA which was opened 4 years prior to the Savannah location.
Mark Carpenter of Savannah Skate Inn explained this one a bit--
Skatetime USA and Savannah Skate Inn (My Rink) we’re in competition against each other we both opened around the same time you got it Right Dave Ritter owned it but they were only in business 7 years when they went out of business it was actually 1986 I remember it well because we bought everything in that building down to the popcorn machine.
Truth be told it was in a better area of Savannah than I was and I always liked the building better.
Reason for closing:
During most of the 70s older adults between 18 to 30 kept Rinks open across the US.
But when the 80s came it turned into a kid business at least in the south it did. Skatetime never embraced it. The same 100 Regulars would come and basically run the rink ran right at the time they should have put me out of business with the area they were in verses mine
I remember saying once I wish I could put 14 and under only on the door that’s where the money was up until today with the exception of cascades in Atlanta I don’t know of a rink that depends on adult or upper teen business at all
-- Mark Carpenter, email, August 28, 2020.
I agree with you, Mark. The neighborhood does look better and more focused on businesses. And the building looked better. And I agree with you about the decades and what rinks have done. There are now Roller Derby track centers that they buy rinks that are closed up and there are just maybe a couple of adults-only rinks (one being still active in Staten Island in New York City area serving alcoholic beverages).
The Interior.
N/A. Likely for Monkey Joe's, they kept the carpet, a carryover from the rink and no wonder people said in several pro-con comments sites (Yelp, Facebook, and TripAdvisor) said the place really needs renovation inside especially the carpet. I agree with the commentators because they are quite in common explaining the common problem. Therefore, I recommend Jungle Joe's needs to focus on renovations inside. And please cover that outlet! They are exposed as well. That is a health code violation. Since the shut down in March 2020, did they rip out old carpet and put new one on? We will wait and see what commentators are saying. If not, likely before 2022, this facility will close. JUST AN OPINION. Why? If no renovations, the health code and building inspectors will demand changes to meet post-COVID requirements. I recommend carpetiles because of children spilled or God forbid, vomits, it can be replaced easily and cheaper. Just take out and throw out damaged carpetiles and replace with new ones. Or put down padded lamination on the floor which can be bleached washed and clean. Monkey Joe's has been around for a while. If that is true, as of 2020, 11 years old carpet? Yuck.
The Exterior.
I have no idea what the original look like. Perhaps it would have been similar to the renovated version that after the rink closed and Monkey Joe's kept the look until a new tenant--the law firm came in and that pooled in quite a bit of money making the whole complex more modern in the Graying of America Modernism look. The original was showing Tan-colored all Steel Walled look with Dark Brown Brick veneer. Since I have no photo, I will be using the October 2012 edition photograph from Google Map.
They renovated sometimes after 2016 because that was the last time it looked that way before the law firm boasted the appearance into what they look now. See both photographs above. The newer one makes the building look shorter, taller, and having said, it appeared smaller.
On where Monkey Joe's main admission, there was a canopy before the renovations occurred to remove that canopy, the apperance of that building looked more like a Starlite, Sparkles, or even Starburst Skate Center would be like. It was a little shorter though but the looks really gets it.
The renovated looked more highly professional than relaxed form of architecture. The new one looked more constraint that it makes it look more like a professional office plaza.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: N/A. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: 1980?. Demolished: Renovated twice- after rink closed and recent times.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Plaza-like Building (current).
Roof: Gable (fake flat)
Acres: N/A.
Operated:
Skateland U S A: June 2, 1980 to 1986.
Reason for Closure:
Skateland U S A: See above.
Wanted: Information regarding photos of interior and exterior, exact dates of open and closed and why closed?
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Bizapedia, Georgia Register, Yelp - Monkey Joe's, Open Corporation - Skateland U S A,
Manta - Monkey Joe's,
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved.