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World On Wheels, Last Roller Rink In L.A., Closing This Sunday
World on Wheels is closing its doors on June 23. (Photo by Joséphine Runneboom) via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr)
Time to call "last skate" for L.A.'s last roller rink: World on Wheels is closing on June 23.
KPCC reports that the Mid-City institution, which opened in 1981, is folding because Its parent company, AMF Bowling Center, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last November.
The rink, located at 4645 Venice Boulevard, has been famous for its weekly themes including "After School Skate," "Oldies But Goodies Night," and "Smooth Groove." It hosted Goth nights, Saturday night disco and Sunday gospel brunches.
For Kevin Brooks, who's DJed there as "DJ Kellogg" since 1992, it's doubly sad, since it's where he met his wife. "We just looked at each other and I guess we just caught our eye and we just started talking," said Brooks. "Two kids out of it, 15 and three."
His 15-year-old daughter, Keshia Nay Brooks said, "I've been going here since I was a little kid—all my life. My mom had my baby shower here and my family's here. I'm going to be really sad. I'm going to cry because I don't want it to close down over the summer. Where we going to go?"
World on Wheels (Photo by Joséphine Runneboom) via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr)
That sentiment was shared by a much older regular, Willie Foster. "Skating has been part of the black community for years," he told KPCC. "I mean, here I am in my 60s still skating, I've been skating since the 8th grade and they're closing down, so where are we supposed to go?"
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[UPDATE]
Our readers point out there are still some skating rinks in the Valley, including Northridge and Glendale.
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