Roller Skate City

 A new skating floor, new furniture, new bathrooms, new concession stand and, most exciting, a new light and sound system and a library of over 10,000 songs updated every other week, are all part of reviving the roller skating scene in Albuquerque as Roller Skate City enters its first summer in operation in Albuquerque. 
 

 Roller Skate City, based in Colorado, bought the old Roller King location, modernized it and reopened in November with a new attitude about skating in Albuquerque.

 "We only rent the quad skates," said Kaci Paetz, operations manager, "We want to bring back the old school roller skating. I think people are starting to really catch on."

 Judging from the crowds, Paetz is correct. Saturday nights the line to get in starts forming about 5 p.m. and wraps around the building before the doors open at 7 p.m.
 

 Sunday nights are reserved for adults only from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
 

 "Adults that come are usually great at skating," Paetz said, "and we don't want them to trample over little ones."
 

 But little ones have their time to shine as well. Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. to noon, children skate for $4.50, and parents get to skate for free ($2.00 skate rental with free admission). If the little one needs lessons, those are available too. Pixie classes for ages two to six are on Thursday mornings from 10 to 11:30 and include lessons, fun, skate rental and a drink for $4. Lessons for all other ages --including adults-- run for five-week  sessions on Saturday mornings from 9:15 to 10 a.m. for $30.

 "The pixie classes are great," Paetz said. "When they get out of class, they chase the lights and have a great time."

 The pixie students are not the only ones to enjoy the new light system. As exciting as the lights are on normal skate nights, the rink will occasionally step it up even more and have "black-out" skates where they turn down all the other lights, turn on the fog machine, power up the strobe lights and laser shows, light up the disco ball,  and have a blast.

 "It is awesome in here," Paetz said. "The energy with the lights going through the fog... It's a once in a lifetime experience."

- by Julie Medina, Albuquerque Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Julie Medina

Julie Medina has experience as a reporter at the Albuquerque Journal and has written freelance articles for the Albuquerque Tribune, Albuquerque the Magazine, New Mexico Magazine and New Mexico Kids Magazine. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in print journalism from the University of New Mexico in 2008. She has lived in Albuquerque since 1984 and believes it is best to remember to play like a tourist in your own hometown so you don't forget the vast culture around you.