Months of hard work and preparation has paid off for SUSO Skate Co. co-owners Henry O'Brien and Janine Bartels as they're finally set to welcome roller skaters to the rink inside the Cambridge Centre mall.
Mayor Jan Liggett was on-hand to cut the ribbon and officially welcome the Toronto-based company to the city on Wednesday afternoon.
The once bustling rink had been dark since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now those walking by are greeted with flashing lights, music and laughter as skaters make their way around the cement pad.
O'Brien is excited to serve the community and showcase all that roller skating has to offer.
"We're excited for people to start coming through," he said.
"Hopefully we'll get a good response from the community. We're very beginner friendly. The overall goal is for people to enjoy their time skating, for it to resonate with the mall and for them to want to keep us around for a little while longer."
The company will begin catering to kids in the coming weeks after receiving feedback that it was something residents were looking for. O'Brien says there will be two types of skates offered, a family friendly option and an adult night with a DJ.
Skating will run at the rink from May until August. With Retro Rollers currently occupying Galt Arena Gardens on Friday nights, it makes for two roller skating options in Cambridge.
Liggett is thrilled that an old activity like roller skating is getting a new life.
"It brings the older generation back to their teen years and there's nostalgia," she said.
"For the younger generation it's a whole new sport for them to do that's affordable. Overall, it's one more thing that makes people happy and brings spirit back into the community."
Having unique activities to take part in also plays a role in drawing people into the community, Liggett says.
"It will bring a different demographic to the mall," she said.
"When people go to a mall that's out of town they tend to go somewhere else, as well. Restaurants will benefit from that and then people will drive through our city and see what a beautiful community it is."
For more information on SUSO Skate Co. visit www.susoskateco.com.
