History made as three Black women open Charlotte’s only skating rink

According to WCCB Charlotte, skating is one of the most popular activities in the U.S., with people engaging in it for leisure or as a profession. In recent times, the vibe around staking has died down.

However, three Black women are bringing the love of staking to Charlotte with their new venture. Kendria Holmes, Brandi Fox, and Sh’niqua Ussery founded Rollin’ CLT, which was officially launched on Labour Day Weekend, September 4th-6th.

It all started in 2016 when Holmes had the idea of opening a skating rink and lounge in the Charlotte-Metro Area. It was just around the time that staking was resurfacing as an enjoyable pastime for adults and children.

Holmes met Fox at a startup incubator forum in 2017. She shared her vision with Fox who was in tune with the business idea. However, the two did not connect again until three years later. Fox and her friend, Ussery, later met with Holmes to make the skating business a reality.

“We are all Charlotte natives, so it’s like homegrown,” Fox told FOX46. “I think it just really brings that Charlotte loves into one place and that’s really what we’re trying to do. This is just the beginning.”

Currently, the staking rink operates on weekends with ticket prices ranging from $11 to $22. Also, customers have the option to rent a pair of skates for $3 or bring their own. The rink is also available for private parties.

The skating rink and lounge have other facilities such as a state-of-the-art outdoor roller rink, an adults-only outdoor lounge area with hookahs and bar, an onsite game truck for an interactive gaming experience, and Charlotte’s best food trucks.

Fox said they wanted to offer something different, particularly considering how the pandemic has destructed people’s normal way of life.

“We just really wanted to do something different. We just took the effect of Covid — people wanting to be outside — with the popularity of lounges for millennials and then we just brought back skating,” Fox told Biz Journal. “It’s like a big old family reunion with skating in it.”

The three entrepreneurs also revealed to Biz Journal that they have invested $11,000 into the venture. They are also set to launch a charitable organization, Rollin’ Homies, this fall to provide school children with education around business principles.