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Fairfield residents find roller skating opportunities at fieldhouse
FAIRFIELD – It was a sad day when the upstart business Volition Skate Co. had to close its doors in 2023.
The downtown Fairfield business had injected new life into roller skating, and provided the town with a place to purchase skates and accessories. Owner Jen Kranz said she’s spent the last few months trying to sell her remaining inventory, but she wants the public to know that roller skating events are alive and well in Fairfield.
In fact, Kranz has started a new endeavor called “The Rollin’ Rink,” which refers to pop-up roller skating events in Fairfield and Ottumwa. She’s been hosting them from 1-3 p.m. every other Sunday at the Maharishi School fieldhouse, and the next one will be Sunday, March 10.
Kranz has been hosting these pop-up roller rinks at the fieldhouse for the past couple of years, and she’s planning to continue the tradition in 2024. She also hosts roller rink pop-ups at the Ottumwa YMCA on the second Friday of the month from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Kranz and Kate Vigmostad started Volition Skate Co. together in 2020. Later, the business partnership dissolved and by September of 2023, Kranz had to close the shop on the south side of the Fairfield square. Kranz said she’s sold skates and accessories online since then.
Luckily, Kranz realized there was still a local demand for roller skating opportunities, and that’s why she has stuck with the pop-up roller rinks. She said attendance at the events has been great, garnering 40-50 attendees at the fieldhouse.
“My sister helps me, and it’s enough to pay ourselves something small,” Kranz said. “We’re mostly doing it for the community aspect.”
Kranz said she’s hoping to upgrade the experience at these pop-up skates by raising money for a new speaker system. She’d love to get her own laser lights for skating parties, and acquire a projector so that she could show videos of roller skating classes.
“I’d like to show some skate dance classes,” Kranz said.
A few years ago, Kranz raised money for her business to purchase $4,000 worth of rental skates. At the time, she was hopeful that she would be able to fundraise toward a new roller rink, though that has proven to be a difficult task.
“I’m still actively looking for a location for a roller rink,” she said. “I haven’t found a suitable location yet. Typically, you need 20,000 square feet for the skating area and additional space for people to sit.”
While Kranz is looking for a new site, she said the Maharishi School fieldhouse is working just fine. She has plenty of space to store her rental skates and run a little concession stand.
“We have about 100 rental skates from toddler size up to men’s 13,” she said. “It’s been nice not having the overhead of the rink.”
Kranz said the fieldhouse does need some repairs to its roof, which leaks a little bit, and that has caused the floorboards to warp. However, Kranz said it’s fortunate because the portion of the floor affected is in the center of the gym, which is not where the skaters are going.
The fieldhouse also lacks air conditioning, so Kranz will suspend her pop-up skates there around June and resume them in the fall when cooler weather returns.
“The community loves the pop-up skates,” Kranz said. “I love that Fairfield loves to skate, and I think it’s important for kids to have something to do.”
Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com
