The Promenade Ice Chalet skating rink, a popular destination for families and skaters for decades, abruptly closed its doors on Wednesday, Sept. 16, according to its website, by order of the Los Angeles County Health Department.
“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the official and permanent closure of Promenade Ice Chalet. We closed our doors today at 11:30 a.m.,” read the statement on the website.
The ice rink, housed in the Promenade on the Peninsula shopping center in Rolling Hills Estates, was already slated to close its doors on Sept. 27, according to email communications from Scott Williams, founder of Ice-America, its management company.
But Williams could not be reached Wednesday to comment on the rink’s sudden health department closure. Public health officials also did not return requests for comment.
The indoor rink, which opened in 1981, was, however, also another victim of the economic woes brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.
At one time, ice skating greats such as Michelle Kwan, a Torrance native and Olympic medalist, and ice skating legend Dorothy Hamill have graced the rink with their talents. But the real importance is the facility’s nearly four-decade impact on families.
Palos Verdes resident Gina Mirigliani, who called the Ice Chalet “the cornerstone of the community,” started a petition on change.org to drum up support. As of Wednesday afternoon, nearly 3,200 signed the petition with a goal of reaching 5,000.
“It’s where young kids learn to skate, it’s where athletes train, whether it be in hockey or in figure skating, it’s a place where the community comes together, and that’s really unique for Rolling Hills Estates,” Mirigliani said on Monday before the closure announcement on Wednesday.
Mirigliani said her children skate at the Ice Chalet, figure skating and hockey, while her husband plays on recreational hockey team at the rink.
“It’s something that’s so special and so important to us,” Mirigliani said. “We just want to make sure that the owners and also the city understands how important it is, not just me and my family, but the community at large.”
After coronavirus lockdown caused the rink to close in March, it reopened on June 15, according to its website. Due to limited space and social distancing guidelines, Ice Chalet offered freestyle, stick time and public sessions by appointment only.
The Promenade on the Peninsula is a mixed-use mall owned by Stoltz Real Estate Partners, based in Pennsylvania.
“We completely understand your frustration, we know what this ice rink means to you, and our entire community,” the owners said in a written statement, which they provided via Williams. “We have loved watching our local community come and enjoy the rink here in our community. We are continuing to evaluate any additional options for the future of the rink.”
Williams said in an email earlier this week he and partner Azumi Williams have operated the Ice Chalet for five years. But, he wrote he could not comment on the rink’s closure except to say “we’ll continue to pursue opportunities for an ice rink in the South Bay when the time is right.”
Ice-America was founded by Scott and Azumi Williams in 2008. It is based in Harbor City.
In a letter posted to the Ice Chalet Facebook page announcing the Sept. 27 closure, Ice-America said a strong factor in the owners deciding to close was greatly reduced attendance levels and higher costs.
“Running an ice rink profitably is a huge challenge in the best of times and simply not possible during a pandemic,” stated the letter.
Mirigliani said on Monday her family’s wish is that when the pandemic is over, the ice rink comes back.
“What is their intent?,” Mirigliani said. “Are they going to lease it out to somebody? Are they going to go dark and melt the ice? Are they going to try to convert it to something else or sell the mall? All those things concern me greatly.”
With its ties to the community and the rink’s history, Mirigliani said the Ice Chalet is more than just a regular business, but she understands the struggles that businesses face during the coronavirus pandemic.
She added, “We just want to be heard as a community.”
