By Molly Snyder Senior Writer Published Aug 23, 2021 at 5:45 PM

After 42 years in business, Rollaero Skate Center in Cudahy is closed for good.

According to a Facebook post yesterday, the rink – which closed in March of 2020 due to COVID-19 – would not reopen.

“Unfortunately Rollaero is no more. We want to thank all of our customers that have come in and enjoyed it here. We will miss you all. Thank you for the many years,” read the end of a lengthy post.

The late Ron Miller built the rink for his wife, Judy, who was a competitive skater and coach in 1979. According to the website, Ron used mostly salvaged materials to build it, including wood arches from the defunct Pallomar Roller Rink where the couple first met.

After Ron passed, Judy and her children ran the rink. However, according to the website, the decision was made in part due to “catastrophic damage to the skating floor” that made it necessary to remove the skating floor.

A second Facebook post asked crestfallen fans of the rink not to crowd source or attempt to “save” the rink.

“Please respect the family's wishes,” reads the post.

Rollerskating has seen an uptick in popularity over the past decade as shown in the 2019 documentary “United Skates.” Roll Train, a local skating organization that provides workouts, lessons and community engagement, has welcomed so many new skaters in the past few years they had to relocate to larger spaces multiple times.

There are a few remaining rollerskating rinks in the area: Skateland in Ozaukee, Butler and Waukesha; and Incredi-Roll in West Allis.


Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.

Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.