Shake and Bake Family Fun Center 1601 Pennsylvania Ave, Baltimore, MD. This was original look before renovation in 2017-2018. Above was private business and bottom was public (owned by City of Baltimore.) I like the new look better. Much cleaner look and less clutter and less messy look. Good job City of Baltimore! Source: Google.
Shake and Bake Family Fun Center 1601 Pennsylvania Ave, Baltimore, MD. Noticed the two different appearances? Above was private business and bottom was public (owned by City of Baltimore). I like the new look better. Much cleaner look and less clutter and less messy look. Good job City of Baltimore! Source: Google.
Shake and Bake Family Fun Center 1601 Pennsylvania Ave, Baltimore, MD. Very 1970s font with excitement saying "The Bake is Back!" Source: City of Baltimore, MD.
Shake and Bake Family Fun Center 1601 Pennsylvania Ave, Baltimore, MD. Very 1970s font with excitement saying "The Bake is Back!" Source: Shake and Bake Family Fun Center/City of Baltimore.
Shake and Bake Family Fun Center 1601 Pennsylvania Ave, Baltimore, MD. A very happy skater display his inline skate and ready to skate at the S and B Family Fun Center. Good time are rolling again at this rink. Source: Skating Squid/YouTube.
Shake and Bake Family Fun Center 1601 Pennsylvania Ave, Baltimore, MD. Talking about the opening of the new rink. This was an announcement of opening. However, the video of skaters were set to skate during soft opening prior to the ceremony on the 23rd. Likely days prior to that official opening day. Source: WMAR ABC 2.
Shake and Bake Family Fun Center 1601 Pennsylvania Ave, Baltimore, MD. Talking about the opening of the new rink. This is the better news segment regarding opening. Source: WJZ CBS 13.
United Skates of America 1601 Pennsylvania Ave, Baltimore, MD
Shake and Bake Family Fun Center 1601 Pennsylvania Ave, Baltimore, MD (Current Operating)
Shake and Bake Family Fun Center 1601 Pennsylvania Ave, Baltimore, MD (Current Operating)
Originally it was Shake and Bake then it became United Skates of America franchise but they came back as an independent rink, Shake and Bake Family Fun Center. I do not have much information on the dates however, as of 29 February 2020, their website is down due to virus attack. I was unable to see what the site was like. And to see photos.
The United Skates of America version of Shake and Bake rink was first opened in 1983 by then operator Colt Glenn and then soon after it was operated by Anthony Williams Sr. and according to the article in the Baltimore Sun, the rink was becoming a dive. Trash all over inside and out, torn, and was in poor condition. The city perhaps heard the complaints from patrons of the USA S and B rink and the city mayor and other officials came in during 2017 and immediately shut down because it was truly derelict. Terrible shape.
The owner/operator had financial problems often and recovered many times. But in 2017, it was the last draw. The city took over and they were going to stay shut but when they were shut, the community in Baltimore really were upset that the rink was closed. In fact, the mayor's phone rang all the time that people wanted a rink there. So, the city took care of it by renovations completely down to new HVAC system and new floors, carpets, paint, everything! And replaced staff with city employees.
Apparently the operator did not renovate the rink and let it deteriorated since 1983. That was more than 30 years of sameness! Apparently the floor, the Maple floor was not taken care of as supposed to be according to the proper rink care that it has to be polished every few weeks and sand down every few years and recoat with thick polyurethane or plastic clear (or paint) coat. So, I am sure now the City of Baltimore will take good care of it. Rarely some State Fairs have rinks and are operated by the states. Same funciton.
I do not know what it was like prior to the shut down but the newly refreshed look under the City Management, The Shake and Bake rink (and bowling alley) are beautiful now.
The building houses not just the rink but also bowling alley (USBC prefer we call that Bowling houses, I prefer to call it Bowling alley or center). It has 40 lanes for bowling.
The renovations cost city tax payers 300,000 USD. It was reopened on Friday, March 23, 2018.
This rink has Maple floor like it was before the city takeover. And it has Log cabin format. Beautiful Maple floor now. I am sure it had some wild graphics on the walls but currently very clean and updated and what i like the best of this place is called, "The Bake is Back!" on the wall. Red thick 1970s font on the end wall with Yellow background color. It replaced the wild graphics I saw on a video with Santa Claus skater on the rink. It had different graphics on each section. It did look very busy and wild design. Apparently only one center section of the long wall it has cloud like mural on there.
It apparently looked brand new inside during 2017-18 renovation and then they renovated the bowling alley and then reopened that too. It apparently looked very successful now.
The old USA SB rink had disco look and feel with diamond balls (mirrored balls) and other disco features. But currently it is more of subdued style with new appareance of lights on ceiling. It does have exposed raised ceiling.
The exterior showed how huge the facility is when standing outside. They have very 1950s abstract style on the exterior. (Was there a rink even before 1983?) Reason I said that because of the appearance on the outside. It could have been something else at the time. Or it was built in 1980s but it looked bit off for 1980s.
To enter, you step up on the stair and enter. I did not see any ramps for disabilities. They should have acknowledge of Americans with Disabilities Act because now it is a public government building and government owned business. The original colors.. It had that "Ghetto" style art work on the canopy. But the rest were in, at least most of the walls, Tan colored Cinderblocks. It has that unique V-shaped section on front wall. This is what I mean by Abstractism for this rink. This is not a Googie's but Abstractism but minimum of it.
According to Google Map, in 2007, they had Lime Green paint for the base from the V to the right beyond the main door entrance. In 2000s, Lime Green was the color. They also had Crimson Red for the garden walls. But the 2019 photos on same website, Google Map, showed it is presently.
They had a big sign that stated where you can park. Park in the rear with big red arrow on the very end (left side of entrance doors) which is also a V-shaped. That end changed dramatically by removing the parking-in-rear sign and replaced with nice city logo and a leaf on it. They have wild graphics in several Purple themed hues. Same with beyond the other V that is in center of complex. It is big because of the rink and 40 lanes! I know what a 40 lanes bowling alley is like. Been to a few.
USA Shake and Bake - (original)
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Maple Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: ~70,000 SF Built: N/A Demolished: Still standing
Type of Building: Free Span Steel Cinderblock Building.
Roof: Flat
Acres: N/A
Operated: 1983 to 2017
Reason for Closure: Owner operator reckless and ruined the rink. City shut down and renovated it.
Shake and Bake - (still operational)
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Maple Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: 70,000 SF Built: N/A Demolished: Still standing.
Type of Building: Free Span Steel Warehouse Building.
Roof: Flat
Acres: N/A
Lanes: 40
Operated: 1983. to present.
Shake and Bake: 1983 to 2017.
United Skates of America: 1983 to 2017
Shake and Bake Family Fun Center: Friday March 23, 2018 to present.
Reason for Closure: None. Still operational.
Wanted: Information regarding when exactly opened in 1983 and why Colt sold it? When did the old rink was forced to close in 2017?
Sources: Yelp
Facebook
Baltimore Fishbowl
Four Square
Local Gyms and Fitness
Eventseeker
Trip Advisor
Official web page from City of Baltimore
Shake and Bake old website (images not functioning), skatebowl.com (virus affected, defunct website, do NOT enter). WJZ 13 and WMAR 2. There are many Youtube video related to the rink.
Fox Baltimore
Date of Issue: 2020. Updated: 30 October 2021.
For Office Only: 4/3.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved.
The United Skates of America version of Shake and Bake rink was first opened in 1983 by then operator Colt Glenn and then soon after it was operated by Anthony Williams Sr. and according to the article in the Baltimore Sun, the rink was becoming a dive. Trash all over inside and out, torn, and was in poor condition. The city perhaps heard the complaints from patrons of the USA S and B rink and the city mayor and other officials came in during 2017 and immediately shut down because it was truly derelict. Terrible shape.
The owner/operator had financial problems often and recovered many times. But in 2017, it was the last draw. The city took over and they were going to stay shut but when they were shut, the community in Baltimore really were upset that the rink was closed. In fact, the mayor's phone rang all the time that people wanted a rink there. So, the city took care of it by renovations completely down to new HVAC system and new floors, carpets, paint, everything! And replaced staff with city employees.
Apparently the operator did not renovate the rink and let it deteriorated since 1983. That was more than 30 years of sameness! Apparently the floor, the Maple floor was not taken care of as supposed to be according to the proper rink care that it has to be polished every few weeks and sand down every few years and recoat with thick polyurethane or plastic clear (or paint) coat. So, I am sure now the City of Baltimore will take good care of it. Rarely some State Fairs have rinks and are operated by the states. Same funciton.
I do not know what it was like prior to the shut down but the newly refreshed look under the City Management, The Shake and Bake rink (and bowling alley) are beautiful now.
The building houses not just the rink but also bowling alley (USBC prefer we call that Bowling houses, I prefer to call it Bowling alley or center). It has 40 lanes for bowling.
The renovations cost city tax payers 300,000 USD. It was reopened on Friday, March 23, 2018.
This rink has Maple floor like it was before the city takeover. And it has Log cabin format. Beautiful Maple floor now. I am sure it had some wild graphics on the walls but currently very clean and updated and what i like the best of this place is called, "The Bake is Back!" on the wall. Red thick 1970s font on the end wall with Yellow background color. It replaced the wild graphics I saw on a video with Santa Claus skater on the rink. It had different graphics on each section. It did look very busy and wild design. Apparently only one center section of the long wall it has cloud like mural on there.
It apparently looked brand new inside during 2017-18 renovation and then they renovated the bowling alley and then reopened that too. It apparently looked very successful now.
The old USA SB rink had disco look and feel with diamond balls (mirrored balls) and other disco features. But currently it is more of subdued style with new appareance of lights on ceiling. It does have exposed raised ceiling.
The exterior showed how huge the facility is when standing outside. They have very 1950s abstract style on the exterior. (Was there a rink even before 1983?) Reason I said that because of the appearance on the outside. It could have been something else at the time. Or it was built in 1980s but it looked bit off for 1980s.
To enter, you step up on the stair and enter. I did not see any ramps for disabilities. They should have acknowledge of Americans with Disabilities Act because now it is a public government building and government owned business. The original colors.. It had that "Ghetto" style art work on the canopy. But the rest were in, at least most of the walls, Tan colored Cinderblocks. It has that unique V-shaped section on front wall. This is what I mean by Abstractism for this rink. This is not a Googie's but Abstractism but minimum of it.
According to Google Map, in 2007, they had Lime Green paint for the base from the V to the right beyond the main door entrance. In 2000s, Lime Green was the color. They also had Crimson Red for the garden walls. But the 2019 photos on same website, Google Map, showed it is presently.
They had a big sign that stated where you can park. Park in the rear with big red arrow on the very end (left side of entrance doors) which is also a V-shaped. That end changed dramatically by removing the parking-in-rear sign and replaced with nice city logo and a leaf on it. They have wild graphics in several Purple themed hues. Same with beyond the other V that is in center of complex. It is big because of the rink and 40 lanes! I know what a 40 lanes bowling alley is like. Been to a few.
USA Shake and Bake - (original)
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Maple Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: ~70,000 SF Built: N/A Demolished: Still standing
Type of Building: Free Span Steel Cinderblock Building.
Roof: Flat
Acres: N/A
Operated: 1983 to 2017
Reason for Closure: Owner operator reckless and ruined the rink. City shut down and renovated it.
Shake and Bake - (still operational)
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Maple Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: 70,000 SF Built: N/A Demolished: Still standing.
Type of Building: Free Span Steel Warehouse Building.
Roof: Flat
Acres: N/A
Lanes: 40
Operated: 1983. to present.
Shake and Bake: 1983 to 2017.
United Skates of America: 1983 to 2017
Shake and Bake Family Fun Center: Friday March 23, 2018 to present.
Reason for Closure: None. Still operational.
Wanted: Information regarding when exactly opened in 1983 and why Colt sold it? When did the old rink was forced to close in 2017?
Sources: Yelp
Baltimore Fishbowl
Four Square
Local Gyms and Fitness
Eventseeker
Trip Advisor
Official web page from City of Baltimore
Shake and Bake old website (images not functioning), skatebowl.com (virus affected, defunct website, do NOT enter). WJZ 13 and WMAR 2. There are many Youtube video related to the rink.
Fox Baltimore
Date of Issue: 2020. Updated: 30 October 2021.
For Office Only: 4/3.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved.