Franklin Skate Club
“Our Story”
Rollin’ on the Rink
Franklin Skate Club celebrates 60 years in the round.
Story by: Jenn Willhite
Photos by: Mark Freeland
Originally published in the “Southside Business Exchange” Fall 2019
From left to right:
Sue, Larry and Jerry Williams and Vicki Clay stand on the newly resurfaced maple rink floor.
September (2019) marked the 60th anniversary of the opening of the Franklin Skate Club, and the family-owned business is still rolling on.
Co-owner Larry Williams, who shares the business with his wife, Sue, says the idea for the roller-skating center was inspired by a trip he took as a child to Riverland Amusement Park in Sterling Heights, Michigan, with his youth group. Everyone went roller-skating, and the young Williams knew this was something Franklin needed. When he returned home, he had an idea for his parents, Mabel and James.
“I came home and told Mom and Dad that we needed a skating center.” “Seven years later, we opened the Franklin Skating Club,” he says.
As a part of the family’s business model, the skating center would offer the Franklin community a clean, safe place for recreation. Willian’s daughter, Vicki Clay, was surprised to learn that when the skating center first opened, there was a strict dress code. It was formal,” she says. “I thought, ‘Oh, my lord’, that wouldn’t fly today.”
Williams says that was the commitment made to family entertainment back then, and that commitment remains today. “We work at this seven days a week,” he says. “When we open the doors, we have a responsibility to maintain a clean, wholesome place of recreation.”
The father of two acknowledges that skating centers are closing across the nation. However, he says part of what contributes to their demise is they aren’t properly maintained. Clay says her father has always been one to put money back into the business, and it has paid off. This year, the center is getting a new carpet and red oak throughout.
“There’s always something to do, repairs to be made.” Williams says.
Courtney Lutz Laucka and Vicki Clay look at new equipment in the Pro Shop
A typical day for Williams begins at 6:30a.m. when he rolls in. Many days he is greeted by area residents who stop by for conversation, moments he truly enjoys.
Like her father, Vicki Clay is a people person who says the highlight for her is seeing “the kiddos.”
“Everyone likes to be where there are a lot of people gathering”, Williams says.
Since indoor roller skating is often considered a seasonal activity, Clay says the family tries to offset the summer dip in patronage. In 1982, they opened batting cages on the property. The venture proved lucrative for a while, but the cages closed two years ago.
As the family looks ahead, the future of the center is clouded with some uncertainty. But Clay is hopeful one of her children or the children of her brother, Jerry, will take over when the time comes.
Williams says if his kids don’t know the business by now, they never will. He expects them to honor the family commitment and continue to offer the same quality of service to customers. However, he cautions that “there’s more to skating than just going around and around and around.”
The Franklin Skate Club was at one time ranked third in the country for its speed skating. In the early 1980’s, 26 children who skated at the center went to the national championships in Fort Worth, Texas.
Today, skaters participate in a range of competitions, including figure, dance and free-style skating. The center is regularly open for practice sessions from 4 p.m. to when the evening’s public skating sessions start.
Stop by the PRO SHOP for great deals on skates.
“We have 30 to 40 kids skating and learning to skate in our beginner’s class,” Williams says, “And that is for ages 4 and up.”
Both Williams and Clay agree that one of the biggest contributions to the business’ success has been its patrons. Out-of-state skaters come from as far away as Missouri and the eastern part of Ohio for not only public skate sessions, but also for lessons every other week or so.
On Monday and Thursday nights, former competitive dancers take to the rink. “The average age of that group is about 60 to 70 years old,” Clay says, “which shows you that you are never too old.”
As the family looks ahead to celebrating 60 years, they say plans are still in the works. However, they will make an announcement about the festivities on their marquee, on Facebook and on their website.