A successful set of roller skating events that helped celebrate Galt Arena Gardens' 100th anniversary last summer has prompted the company that hosted them to make a return in 2023.
Retro Rollers Inc., a Stratford based roller skating business, will be inviting Cambridge residents to strap on their skates every Friday from May to August at the historic arena.
“Retro Rollers Inc. was created to facilitate bringing life into roller skating,” Philip Morris, co-founder of the company along with Elaine Beck, said.
“We worked with the City of Cambridge to run roller skating for the 100th Anniversary of Galt Arena Gardens in the summer of 2022. Because of the success of that event we chose to repeat with them this year.”
The announcement of the return of Retro Rollers Inc. comes on the heels of Summer Solstice Skate Co. announcing they’re looking into an unknown location in the city to run similar events.
The Toronto company is hoping to finalize a location in the coming weeks and welcome skaters from September to May, meaning residents will be able to roller skate all year long.
More than just an events-based business, Retro Rollers Inc. operates a pro shop, retail space and teaches various roller skating courses, classes and workshops.
It was actually the COVID-19 pandemic that helped them pivot and develop multiple aspects of their business model.
“When COVID had us closing our pro shop and clearing out that space to make room for the vaccination clinic, we worked from our home and concentrated on our website and retail portion of our business which helped us open our additional location in Stratford in 2022,” Morris said.
“Eight months later, we opened another retail store and rental arrangement with Rollerpony in Toronto.”
In addition to operating out of facilities in London, Stratford and Toronto, the business is excited to return to Cambridge this year.
“We want the community to feel the joy that we feel when we roller skate and experience the loving and inclusive community of roller skaters.,” Morris said
“All of our events include live DJs and rental roller skates, so if you don't own your own we have you covered.”
No matter ones skill level, Morris and Beck hope residents come out and give the nostalgic activity a try.
“We believe in the magic of roller skating,” Morris said.
“You can be having a terrible day and roller skating can be therapeutic and offload that stress. It's a great low impact exercise that you can continue to do well into your later years.”
For more information on Retro Rollers Inc. visit retrorollers.ca.
