Coachlite is such an interesting experience. The place is like taking a Time Machine and traveling back in time to the 80s. According to rumors, the place is under new ownership. I can't speak for what the old owners were like or what the place was like prior to the new owners, but what I can say is that the new owners seem friendly. They've been boasting new party rooms and construction to make the place seem more modern and comfortable, which definitely seems like a great idea for this place.
The building itself has a very rustic charm to it. Everything in there is definitely catered to that 80s vibe. From the floors, to the paint, to the rink itself, you can tell this place has a lot of history to it.
The DJ here is awesome. I've only ever been here on adult skate nights, but his playlist is great. Amazing music. I found some new tracks because of him!
The employees here are all very nice. Everyone is very friendly and forthcoming to help. The place also has a lot of regulars that are also very friendly and willing to help you.
Imagine being on the set of a Netflix show, that's kind of what this place feels like. It doesn't feel real sometimes. Pair that up with the amazing skills of the skaters here and it's like going into another world.
The place does not serve alcohol, but they do have soft drinks, snacks, and icees at the concession stands. They also have a vending machine for pop, but the machine does eat quarters, so I recommend just going to the concession stand.
The bathrooms here are pretty basic. Be careful if you go into the bathrooms with skates or blades on because the floor is on a slant and you might find yourself rolling backwards while using the toilet.
The lockers area is a little dated. It's nice to have lockers, but they are only one time use. So if you need to dig into your locker to get a water bottle, you'll have to pay again to use it.
The actual rink is very nice. The whole experience is very fun. I have a blast here. For what we pay in admission ($10) + $5 for skate rentals (unless you own a pair of skates or blades), it's very reasonable.
Overall, I do recommend Coachlite. It's one of the only rinks in the area. I do have some suggestions though:
1. Consider painting the rink floor and create three "lanes" of different colors. The lane closest to the center would be for slow riders. The middle lane is medium speed. And then the outer lane is fast riders.
2. Consider doing some fun artwork on the walls. Pac-Man references? Mario? Or even just generic pixel art. Or something like that.
3. The seating area where the lockers are doesn't have back rests. I think it would be cool if the seating area where the lockers are could have chairs with back support.
4. Consider upgrading the lockers to be more than a one time use.
5. Why does the entrance have two numbered doors? The numbering is a little confusing.
Overall, Coachlite is a really cool skating hub. There's not a lot of competition in the area at all, so it's a great place to go and be part of a skating/roller blading community. Everyone is very nice and prices are very reasonable. The place also has a very diverse community, and it's pretty cool being able to be amongst a group of people where everyone is friendly, no matter what walk of life you come from. It's very refreshing. It feels like a safe space where all are welcome and everyone just has fun together.
Thanks for reading! read more