Goodbye Empire

Last month the 66-year-old Empire Skating Rink in Brooklyn, the birthplace of Roller Disco --and the last indoor skating rink in New York City- , was closed and gutted for storage.
This was a landmark and community cornerstone filled with history. Bill Butler invented Roller Disco here in the early 70's, Cher had a birthday party here, other celebrities such as Lil' Kim, Bow Wow and Mariah Carey also skated here. Several movies and music videos were shot here and regular skaters from the rink were used for skating movies including Xanadu and Roll Bounce, both of which were choreographed by Bill Butler.
The art of creative skate dancing, which has morphed and evolved into various forms in the southern states, started right here at the Empire. "This is the original spot. This is a landmark."
The Empire Roller Skating Rink was an essential and important part of the Crown Heights community. It provided a fun, healthy and constructive outlet for our inner-city youth, keeping them safe and off the streets. Now it will be filled with boxes of the old clothes and extra furniture of Manhattan yuppies. We will never have our good times on the "Miracle Maple" floor again...

MAYOR BLOOMBERG! HOW COULD YOU ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN!?!?!
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Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• empire
• roller
• skating
• rink
• brooklyn
• skate
• bounce
• crown
• heights

[chaimsl]

And the original one at that. The last one in New York City.... Goodbye Empire....

[musicmylove]

I'm so pissed....all these black athletes, rappers, singers hollering they love ny and can't take a little of the money they use to make it rain on strippers to save a historic landmark they wouldn't let the apollo close...not as prestigious i know but so important to history of NY. I'm pissed. My mom and dad met here in the late 70's to make me an 80's baby who spent the late 90's and 2000's here. Sooooo f-ing Mad I have soooooo many memorable experiences from this place. It just sucks.

[lizakaempire]

I LOVE EMPIRE .I HATE TO SEE IT GO

[stickypop1000]

Growing up in bed stuy this was our sat recreation & now that im older its ashame that todays teens have noplace to vent ,no after school centers ,no boy's & girls clubs nothing at all

it's sad to say but new york is not the place to raise a family anymore

im stereo from kingston park & brooklyn used to be in the house

[JaayBoo100]

what is this song



[ChuloBadGuy]

I really wanted to knock that nigga the fuck out @ 3:29. The older God trying to teach the little homie about the history of the spot he kicking it at & he wanna talk side ways saying "Why should I" when he asked him if he knew about the movie that was filmed there back in the day.

[bklynchicka994]

SMFH! Bring it back!

[MrBMoreFitness]

it really sucks that i neva had the pleasure to experience this place because I understand that if you love to skate then this WAS THE PLACE and I really feel like kicking myself in the azz right about now. :(

also who know the name of this house song that be playing in this video from 0:01 - 0:43?

[LamontDaGrizzly]

I have'nt been to empire since 1989. That floor gave me alot of bruises until i got it right. One of the places i think about when i think about BK. Shame, these kids today missed out. RIP EMPIRE.

[QWILDER]

Don't Take this video Posting EVER! This is a WONDERFUL! Video!!

I STILL HAVE MY SKATES!!... Waiting to put them on! I put on my first skates at 5 years old, at the EMPIRE. (what was my parents thinking?)

[bklynchicka994]

I always had fun but never knew how to skate lol but I always went hoping to learn. People say it's not fun if u didn't know how to skate but that's BULLSHIT! Go with the right people you would have so much fun! I learned how to skate for like 5 min than forgot lol I bet I would of been a pro now if they would of kept it open =( smh, I miss it!

[Tyquan1996]

DAMN the memories in dis place.I still remember ma lil sis dancin on the last day it wuz open lolz