Popular Belleville skating center is reopening under new ownership and a new name too
I was 19 years old the last time I went roller skating.
I didn’t skate often and really wasn’t very good at it. That last time, I fell hard, right on my tailbone. Not exactly the best time ever.
However, I have plenty of fond memories of the times I spent at Belleville’s Fun Spot Skating Center as a kid, mainly for birthday parties with friends from grade school.
I pass by the skating rink often and still remember the fun I had there. I’ve also paid attention to the activity that’s recently been taking place at 1400 West Blvd.
Fun Spot has a new look, a new owner and a new name.
The rink is now known as Skate City Fun Spot, and it opens 4 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 3, according to the Skate City Fun Spot Facebook page.
The skating rink is under the ownership of Skate City Colorado, which also has six other locations in Denver and Colorado Springs.
Skate City Fun Spot owner, Josh Ingrum, grew up in the roller skating industry. The first Skate City location opened more than 50 years ago in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The six Colorado locations are currently owned by Ingrum’s family, headed by his parents Jeff and Terri Ingrum. While ownership of the business falls under Skate City, Josh Ingrum, 38, owns the Belleville
building.
Fun Spot Skating Center was established in 1968 by Bruce and Barbara Pearson. The Pearsons ran the business until handing the reins over to their son, Greg Pearson, and his wife Denise.
During the pandemic, when rinks all over the U.S. were closed, Ingrum said his dad thought of Greg Pearson one day and called to check on him. Ingrum said his parents have known the Pearsons for a long time.
The skating rink community is a small yet well-connected network, according to Ingrum, who is also on the Roller Skating Association International’s Board of Directors.
Word spread quickly that the Pearsons wanted to sell, and the well-established Fun Spot was an appealing opportunity.
Jennifer Westerfield, the Pearsons’ daughter and manager at Fun Spot, said that her parents got a taste of what retirement would feel like during COVID time off and decided that’s what they wanted.
Westerfield will stay on with Skate City Fun Spot as a manager, handling marketing, school events and other office responsibilities.
Ingrum said the updates to the facility were more work than planned.
Not only was the building’s exterior completely redone, the inside has new carpet, paint, seating area, skate racks, video games, skate rentals and updated bathrooms and concession area. The rink’s wood flooring will also be refinished prior to reopening.
“This is gonna be a cool rink, so we’re excited about it,” said Ingrum.
After living in downtown Denver for a long time, Ingrum recently moved to Belleville, describing it as “very down-to-earth … very family-oriented.” He appreciates that Belleville has a strong sense of community and plans to stay indefinitely.
Ingrum also said that the St. Louis metro area has a strong skating culture, acknowledging other rinks in the area, including a Skate City in East St. Louis.
There are other Skate City locations throughout the U.S. that use the Skate City name and branding but operate independently.
Ingrum made it clear that he isn’t here to compete with other area skating rinks but to help bring up the skate culture in the area.
Roller skating rinks continue to reopen across the country, and Ingrum says that most have done really well.
Roller skating is “making a little comeback,” said Ingrum, particularly with adults.
Ingrum said during the pandemic, more people, mainly adults, bought roller skates to stay active and get some much-needed fresh air. Skaters have taken to social media, posting videos and photos featuring their roller skating moves and appealing to seasoned skaters and newbies alike.
To accommodate the surge in adults’ interest, Skate City Fun Spot will hold Adult Nights for skaters 18 and older (ID required) every Sunday night from 8-10:30 p.m. Admission is $7.50 per person, and skate rental is $3.
Starting in January, skating classes will take place on Saturday mornings. There will be sessions for beginner, intermediate and advanced levels with a monthly fee of $25.
Ingrum is also considering adding adult-only skating lessons in the future.
The Pixie & Parent Skate will also begin in January. Geared towards children ages 2-6, this program will teach little children how to skate, as well as how to stop, how to fall and how to get back up again. Parents are able to participate. The cost will be $5 per child with free admission for parents. Skate rental is included.
A kids’ inline hockey program is also in the works for 2022.
Birthday parties can be booked starting Friday, Dec. 10. Bookings for fundraiser events and private parties are also available.
Skate City Fun Spot is located at 1400 West Blvd. in Belleville.
Hours will be noon to 8 p.m (public skating) and 8-10:30 p.m. (adult night) Sundays, 4-10 p.m. Fridays and noon to 10 p.m. Saturdays. The rink is reserved for private parties Monday-Thursday.
For more information, call 618-234-4502 or visit skatecityfunspot.com.
