ROLL ON—Once a popular destination for local young people, the T.O. RollerDome shuttered its doors earlier this month. The city is already in talks with another rink operator who would like to move in, but the decision lies with the current owners. WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers Some 300 to 400 children on roller skates once made the RollerDome in Thousand Oaks the place to be on a Friday night.

Then the recession set in, and the rink on Avenida de Los Arboles began to struggle. On Oct. 3, the RollerDome shuttered its doors, leaving Thousand Oaks with one less place for young people to have fun.

“In two months, the RollerDome would’ve been in business for 17 years. Now there’s no place for kids to be in Thousand Oaks unless they want to go hang out at the mall,” said longtime manager Patty Ruiz.

“The RollerDome was a sanctuary for kids. Their parents knew they’d be safe there.”

SIGN OF THE TIMES—Though its website and phone line are still up, a sign on the front of the T.O. RollerDome lets patrons know the status of the once popular skating rink. WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers Ruiz, still lamenting the loss of the job she held for seven years, is hoping another rollerskate company will take over.

“It’s heartbreaking. We’re trying to get someone else to come in and pick up the ball and run with it,” she said.

Gary Wartik, the city’s economic development manager, is also hopeful another company will come in and get the rink going again but said that would be up to the property owners.

“The city was contacted by another operator from the San Fernando Valley who expressed an interest. We’re working to bring them and the landlord together. Then it’s a matter of negotiation,” Wartik said.

Attempts by the Acorn to reach the RollerDome’s owners were unsuccessful.

Hopefully the two sides can make a deal or arrangement, Wartik said, because the city has a very limited number of entertainment venues for young people.

“It would be a shame to lose roller skating.”

Wartik said he’d also love to see miniature golf, an ice skating rink and a bowling alley come to town.

But the current environment for small businesses is a challenging one, he said.

“The RollerDome was lowprofile. It wasn’t being used by the community at the level it needed to be to sustain itself,” Wartik said.

The problem, Ruiz said, was that not enough money was spent to improve the RollerDome after many years in business.

“It needs someone who can invest in it. It was an awesome place, but it needs an infusion of money to make it better,” she said.

Ruiz knew the customers by name and they knew who she was, she said.

“I loved every minute. I hope someone reopens it and I can stay on. It’s hard to get a job like that,” she said.

With the RollerDome in T.O. closed, the nearest roller rinks are Skating Plus, 1720 Mesa Verde Ave., in Ventura and Skateland, 18140 Parthenia St., in Northridge.