The Skatery 5646 Wales Ave NW, Massillon, OH. Logo. Source: Facebook - The skatery group.
Foxboro Roll-a-rena 5646 Wales Ave NW, Massillon, OH. Logo. Source: Facebook - Foxboro Roll-a-rena group.
The skatery 5646 Wales Ave NW, Massillon, OH. The original look when it was The Skatery. Source: Google. Copyrighted Digitally-Remastered by Dead-Rinks (color, clearly).
The skatery 5646 Wales Ave NW, Massillon, OH. The close up. The original look was quite different than the new façade they did worked on. They had two rails for skaters to walk up to the door at the time. Look at those cars! Wow. was that Clark Griswold's car there I see? Source: Google. Copyrighted Digitally-Remastered by Dead-Rinks (color, clearly).
The skatery 5646 Wales Ave NW, Massillon, OH. The original sign. All wood. I know its hard to read the name of the rink. Sorry the picture appeared in poor color grade. It was found like this and I adjusted as much as I can. Source: Google. Copyrighted Digitally-Remastered by Dead-Rinks (color, clearly).
Fox Entertainment Center 5646 Wales Ave NW, Massillon, OH. They were signs around at the time. 2011 and 2019 respectively. The logo for Fox is too familiar and similar to the Fox News logo with exception of the spotlights. Source: Google.
Foxboro Roll-a-rena 5646 Wales Ave NW, Massillon, OH. This is when the Foxboro Roll-a-rena was built. They had a better sign than Fox Entertainment Center. And clear too. Red fonts on White. I believe they added the section where the sign was. Source: Facebook- Foxboro group.
Fox Entertainment Center 5646 Wales Ave NW, Massillon, OH. Taken in 2013. All signs removed but the ice cream place was open at the time. Hmm, I see a young lady sitting in the middle of the parking lot looking at the former roller rink. You ok, lady? I know its hard, ma'am. I feel you. We all do miss our rinks around the world. This is why Dead-Rinks is made for special people like you! Source: Google.
Fox Entertainment Center 5646 Wales Ave NW, Massillon, OH. Close up of the closed Fox Entertainment Center. Taken in 2019. Source: Google.
Fox Entertainment Center 5646 Wales Ave NW, Massillon, OH. Already removed the name and the fox. Even the old Dairy Queen which was closed. Taken in 2019. Source: Google.
Fox Entertainment Center 5646 Wales Ave NW, Massillon, OH. This was clearly Fox Entertainment Center because of the fox on the wall above the admission doors and the name plaque on the wall right of the fox. "ARTIES" was actually "BIRTHDAY PARTIES" but it was torn off. It was already up for lease. Taken in 2011. Wow, many cars there after it was closed!? Hmm. Source: Google. 2011.
The Skatery 5646 Wales Ave NW, Massillon, OH. Back wall graphic bit of unique. Source: Facebook - The Skatery group. Copyrighted Digitally-Remastered by Dead-Rinks. Removed person from rink, background fixed.
The Skatery 5646 Wales Ave NW, Massillon, OH. Back wall graphic bit of unique. Source: Facebook - The Skatery group. Copyrighted Digitally-Remastered by Dead-Rinks. Removed person from rink, background fixed.
The Skatery 5646 Wales Ave NW, Massillon, OH. Ground breaking. Source: Publication unknown. Date likely Thursday 26 August 1976.
The Skatery 5646 Wales Ave NW, Massillon, OH. Ground breaking. Source: The Evening Independence Thursday 26 August 1976.
The Skatery 5646 Wales Ave NW, Massillon, OH. A very brief announcement that they are to open soon. Source: Publication unknown. But dated Tuesday, 7 December 1976.
Foxboro Roll-a-rena 5646 Wales Ave NW, Massillon, OH. Teens urged to save the rink. Good try kids! Good job! Source: The Akron Beacon Journal Wednesday 15 April 1998.
Fox Entertainment Center 5646 Wales Ave NW, Massillon, OH. The admission and the exit doors. The futuristic Art Deco railing divided sections of enter and exit. There are two movie-theater style ticket booths seen in this picture. Source: YouTube/Nate.
Fox Entertainment Center 5646 Wales Ave NW, Massillon, OH. behind that huge post, it was a DJ/VJ booth that was circluar. Beyond that was the roller rink. The word DEMO meaning it was to demolish some sections or parts inside for renovations. Source: YouTube/Nate.
Fox Entertainment Center 5646 Wales Ave NW, Massillon, OH. This showed where the practice floor was. About the size of a large or master bedroom Source: YouTube/Nate.
Fox Entertainment Center 5646 Wales Ave NW, Massillon, OH. Their website (defunct). Source: Archives.
The Skatery 5646 Wales Ave NW, Massillon, OH. Ticket to the Skatery! Sorry, it is expired. Source: Facebook - The Skatery group.
Foxboro Roll-a-rena 5646 Wales Ave NW, Massillon, OH. This is a nice T-shirt. Are there available still? Source: Facebook - Foxboro group.
Fox Entertainment Center 5646 Wales Ave NW, Massillon, OH. This is a YouTube video of the former rink in Massillon, Ohio. Source: YouTube/Nate.
The Skatery 5646 Wales Ave, NW Massillon, OH
Foxboro Roll-A-Rena 5646 Wales Ave NW, Massillon, OH
Fox Entertainment Center 5646 Wales Ave NW, Massillon, OH
Foxboro Roll-A-Rena 5646 Wales Ave NW, Massillon, OH
Fox Entertainment Center 5646 Wales Ave NW, Massillon, OH
Originally, it was The Skatery at 5646 Wales Ave, NW in Massillon, Ohio. Later on, it became Foxboro Roll-A-Rena and then Fox Entertainment Center. It has been closed for a long time. Now it is a microbrewery. Its fate will be continued because of a tornado hit the former roller rink-turned-brewery and blew up and down the roof on 21 October 2021 (at this time of writing this profile on 20 December 2021).
But it was way back in 1976 when Spinning Wheels of Ohio had built the rink. They were the operators. The official officers of Spinning Wheels--the owners were Terry and Sarah Limbach. The same people who operated a rink in the same state, Spinning Wheels. Terry had ground broken by the first shovel dig on Thursday, 26 August 1976.
They had a soft opening in December 1976 with private party involving with family and friends then private parties, then open to public by January 1977. I put date down as December 1976 actual date because they had first skating no matter what, private or public.
However, they closed and sold in 1988 to the next operator, The Oaks Group and the new owners renamed the rink as Foxboro Roll-a-Rena in the same year. They ran the rink for ten years when they too closed it in 1998.
The Oaks Group could not afford to renew lease because the rent was 3 times more than what they were making. It was getting too expensive. The owner of the building made that mistake. There were no rinks for a while after Foxboro until Fox Entertainment came along then after that, for 12 years it sat empty! Landlords are usually risking themselves when they ask for too much money and then it will be sitting empty for years and this can hurt landlords because they have a mortgage to pay.
The new owner bought it and renamed it as Fox Entertainment Center. Clearly they kept the name Fox from Foxboro.
That rink ran from 1998 to 2006. It was abandoned for a while before the micro-brewery bought it in 2010s.
Randy Singer was the manager in both rinks--The Skatery and Foxboro Roll-a-Rena. But no information for the third carination of the rink. No information on the owner as well. Anybody?
The Interior.
The Skatery: The interior had very 1970s feel to it with much Redness, Orange, and a little bit Yellow which were all common and trendy in the 1970s.
They had two roller rinks. One is the main rink that had the size 70 Feet by 170 Feet. The beginners' floor size is unknown. By the look in the video, it appeared to be at least 15 Feet by 20 Feet, roughly the size of a master bedroom.
Foxboro Roll-A-Rena:
They had the rinks the same as previous. However, they made heavy renovations in 1988 to update the appearance and likely that look was with an Art Deco 1980s theme because that was when the renovations occurred. A lot of organic curves in the interior. The DJ booth was a D-shaped design. The quite interesting look was they had ceiling curves around the rink, the DJ booth, and against the walls. Very modernism. Unfortunately I never got to see any photographs of that time. Cameras back then were typically not good with films and second of all, usually skaters take pictures and its dark inside. The YouTuber who filmed had quite an appearance inside that was easy to see even no lights were on. Big difference with digital than old film developed by Kodak or Fuji or even Polaroid. The
Fox Entertainment Center:
It apparently was a carryover from Foxboro Roll-a-Rena with the looks.
The Exterior.
The building is a Free-Span Steel Trusses Concrete blocks - Walled Plaza - like Building with Flat roof.
The Skatery: The exterior as you can see as evident was rather dark appearance during the days of Browning of America Era of 1965 to 1980. It was at the peak at the time. Dark Chocolate with Orange fonts were common at the time. The exterior looked quite different than the renovations of 1988. See next one.
Foxboro Roll-A-Rena: The renovation truly renovated by covering up the Browning of America Era look and brightened up quite much that it looked more like an office building! Or a school. Heck, my old school had that architecture look that was designed in 1965 and built in 1972 according to my school's 1975 Centennial Celebration yearbook celebrating 100 years. White Concrete upper walls with Red Bricks. It was clearly perhaps a cover up the old wall they had. And the front was more flatter vertically than the original was. Look at the pictures above to compare. The newer ones look clear and cleaner in lines of its design. The brightness actually helps. Hey businesses, you hear this what I said? Stay way from Graying of America colors and trendy look of 2015 to present. Stick with the brightness between 1980 till 2015 with several trends they had a long the way. They did add a small store front next door which was a Dairy Queen 2000s look with Flatstone wall with Tan Stucco which was popular at that decade right up to 2015. I love the 1970s-80s Brick look the best.
The sign with the wood and arched name and logo were removed and replaced with very modern common lighted signs.
Fox Entertainment Center: The new management with Fox Entertainment Center kept the exterior look the same but replaced with a new name. However, the new owner now and tenant renovated the interior to a microbrewery and restaurant. The tornado damaged the building in October 2021 apparently was being repaired and they are operational as I can see on their Facebook for Royal Docks Brewing Co. The skating rink closed in 2006 and it sat empty till a microbrewery bought the building and renovated it and opened in 2018. 12 years it sat empty and this is how and why the damages inside occurred by trespassers and more. It appeared they did because of their website said they would fix it.
The Stats:
Main Rink Size: 70' x170'. Floor: Non-painted Polyurethane coated Maple Floor Layout: Fan
Beginners Rink Size: N/A. (Real small, roughly the size of a large bedroom) Floor: N/A. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: 21780 SF (1/2 acre in size). Built: N/A. Renovations: 1988.
Demolished: October 2021 Tornado ripped roof. Being rebuilt and still operational.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Trusses Concrete blocks - Walled Plaza - like Building.
Roof: Flat.
Acres: 3.0000 AC.
Operated: (Overall)-- December 1976 to 2006.
The Skatery: December 1976 to 1988.
Foxboro Roll-A-Rena: 1988 to Sunday April 26 1998 at 2 AM.
Fox Entertainment Center: 1998 to 2006.
Reason for Closure: N/A.
The Skatery: N/A.
Foxboro Roll-A-Rena: Lease expired. Did not renew.
Fox Entertainment Center: N/A.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of beginners rink, Also photos/articles. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you. You can also use this form.
Sources:
The Evening Independent - Thursday, 26 Aug 1976. Ground breaking.
The Akron Beacon Journal - Wednesday, 15 Apr 1998. Requested to help.
Facebook - The Skatery
Facebook - Foxboro Roll-a-Rena
YELP - Fox Entertainment Center reported closed.
Date of issue: 20 December 2021.
For office use only: 24/1.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 and 16.
But it was way back in 1976 when Spinning Wheels of Ohio had built the rink. They were the operators. The official officers of Spinning Wheels--the owners were Terry and Sarah Limbach. The same people who operated a rink in the same state, Spinning Wheels. Terry had ground broken by the first shovel dig on Thursday, 26 August 1976.
They had a soft opening in December 1976 with private party involving with family and friends then private parties, then open to public by January 1977. I put date down as December 1976 actual date because they had first skating no matter what, private or public.
However, they closed and sold in 1988 to the next operator, The Oaks Group and the new owners renamed the rink as Foxboro Roll-a-Rena in the same year. They ran the rink for ten years when they too closed it in 1998.
The Oaks Group could not afford to renew lease because the rent was 3 times more than what they were making. It was getting too expensive. The owner of the building made that mistake. There were no rinks for a while after Foxboro until Fox Entertainment came along then after that, for 12 years it sat empty! Landlords are usually risking themselves when they ask for too much money and then it will be sitting empty for years and this can hurt landlords because they have a mortgage to pay.
The new owner bought it and renamed it as Fox Entertainment Center. Clearly they kept the name Fox from Foxboro.
That rink ran from 1998 to 2006. It was abandoned for a while before the micro-brewery bought it in 2010s.
Randy Singer was the manager in both rinks--The Skatery and Foxboro Roll-a-Rena. But no information for the third carination of the rink. No information on the owner as well. Anybody?
The Interior.
The Skatery: The interior had very 1970s feel to it with much Redness, Orange, and a little bit Yellow which were all common and trendy in the 1970s.
They had two roller rinks. One is the main rink that had the size 70 Feet by 170 Feet. The beginners' floor size is unknown. By the look in the video, it appeared to be at least 15 Feet by 20 Feet, roughly the size of a master bedroom.
Foxboro Roll-A-Rena:
They had the rinks the same as previous. However, they made heavy renovations in 1988 to update the appearance and likely that look was with an Art Deco 1980s theme because that was when the renovations occurred. A lot of organic curves in the interior. The DJ booth was a D-shaped design. The quite interesting look was they had ceiling curves around the rink, the DJ booth, and against the walls. Very modernism. Unfortunately I never got to see any photographs of that time. Cameras back then were typically not good with films and second of all, usually skaters take pictures and its dark inside. The YouTuber who filmed had quite an appearance inside that was easy to see even no lights were on. Big difference with digital than old film developed by Kodak or Fuji or even Polaroid. The
Fox Entertainment Center:
It apparently was a carryover from Foxboro Roll-a-Rena with the looks.
The Exterior.
The building is a Free-Span Steel Trusses Concrete blocks - Walled Plaza - like Building with Flat roof.
The Skatery: The exterior as you can see as evident was rather dark appearance during the days of Browning of America Era of 1965 to 1980. It was at the peak at the time. Dark Chocolate with Orange fonts were common at the time. The exterior looked quite different than the renovations of 1988. See next one.
Foxboro Roll-A-Rena: The renovation truly renovated by covering up the Browning of America Era look and brightened up quite much that it looked more like an office building! Or a school. Heck, my old school had that architecture look that was designed in 1965 and built in 1972 according to my school's 1975 Centennial Celebration yearbook celebrating 100 years. White Concrete upper walls with Red Bricks. It was clearly perhaps a cover up the old wall they had. And the front was more flatter vertically than the original was. Look at the pictures above to compare. The newer ones look clear and cleaner in lines of its design. The brightness actually helps. Hey businesses, you hear this what I said? Stay way from Graying of America colors and trendy look of 2015 to present. Stick with the brightness between 1980 till 2015 with several trends they had a long the way. They did add a small store front next door which was a Dairy Queen 2000s look with Flatstone wall with Tan Stucco which was popular at that decade right up to 2015. I love the 1970s-80s Brick look the best.
The sign with the wood and arched name and logo were removed and replaced with very modern common lighted signs.
Fox Entertainment Center: The new management with Fox Entertainment Center kept the exterior look the same but replaced with a new name. However, the new owner now and tenant renovated the interior to a microbrewery and restaurant. The tornado damaged the building in October 2021 apparently was being repaired and they are operational as I can see on their Facebook for Royal Docks Brewing Co. The skating rink closed in 2006 and it sat empty till a microbrewery bought the building and renovated it and opened in 2018. 12 years it sat empty and this is how and why the damages inside occurred by trespassers and more. It appeared they did because of their website said they would fix it.
The Stats:
Main Rink Size: 70' x170'. Floor: Non-painted Polyurethane coated Maple Floor Layout: Fan
Beginners Rink Size: N/A. (Real small, roughly the size of a large bedroom) Floor: N/A. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: 21780 SF (1/2 acre in size). Built: N/A. Renovations: 1988.
Demolished: October 2021 Tornado ripped roof. Being rebuilt and still operational.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Trusses Concrete blocks - Walled Plaza - like Building.
Roof: Flat.
Acres: 3.0000 AC.
Operated: (Overall)-- December 1976 to 2006.
The Skatery: December 1976 to 1988.
Foxboro Roll-A-Rena: 1988 to Sunday April 26 1998 at 2 AM.
Fox Entertainment Center: 1998 to 2006.
Reason for Closure: N/A.
The Skatery: N/A.
Foxboro Roll-A-Rena: Lease expired. Did not renew.
Fox Entertainment Center: N/A.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of beginners rink, Also photos/articles. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you. You can also use this form.
Sources:
The Evening Independent - Thursday, 26 Aug 1976. Ground breaking.
The Akron Beacon Journal - Wednesday, 15 Apr 1998. Requested to help.
Facebook - The Skatery
Facebook - Foxboro Roll-a-Rena
YELP - Fox Entertainment Center reported closed.
Date of issue: 20 December 2021.
For office use only: 24/1.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 and 16.