When Gabe Colon and Pam Mostacero heard of the Super Wheel Skating Center in Kendall, Florida, they were scheduled to close in 2023, and they were on their mission to save it.
The iconic venue that existed under the names Hot Wheels and Super Wheels has been a Kendall facility since 1986. It was countless birthday parties, unsupervised teen meetups, and weekly bend venues for experienced skaters who had mastered their skills since childhood. However, suddenly in November 2023, owner Thomas Mitchell announced that the location was closed. It was after the Crystal Plaza Strip Mall, where the skating rink is located, was sold, he was unable to reach an agreement with the new landlord.
The couple took action looking for funds everywhere. They mortgaged their homes and had their parents give them some of their savings. “We put our home here in danger,” Pam Mossello said. “It was really a family effort and something we felt was a priority.”
The couple knew how important the place was to the community and were able to reach an agreement with the landlord to preserve it. But they weren’t prepared for the overwhelming support they had received from the local generation, who sighed collectively in peace when they realized their beloved skating rink had been saved.
“There’s no shortage of people who come to us and give us their stories,” Colon said. “That means a lot to us.”
One of the things that was saved at the Myamisskate Rink was the collective memories of the good times people had there. And no one has experienced anything more than Brenda Hodgdon, who has worked at Rink for over 30 years.
Wearing roller skate-shaped earrings, Hodgdon is one of countless locals in love with this palace of spin, which may be the true centre of Centerless Kendall.
Hodgdon recalls her first day at the link like this. “I was making cotton candy. I used to put salt instead of sugar. You know, we are young and stupid so we couldn’t tell you the difference between salt and sugar on a cotton candy machine. I’ve never made cotton candy since!”
Her average Saturday shifts on the rink begin at 3pm. She does it all with a smile. Sometimes she works behind the ticket booth greets those who enter. The evening ends at 11pm and Hodgdon’s shift is also over.
Laura Sharp, whose parents Byron and Beverly owned the link in the ’80s and ’90s, expressed that the new owner thanked the location for preserving the integrity of the place.
The link is going very well and is a very enjoyable place for people of all ages,” Sharp said.
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Heidi Arias, 54, went to the skating rink as a teenager. At the time it was called a hot wheel.
“This place reminds me of a time when I went with friends that made it special,” she says. “I remember when I first went, I was probably 11 or 12. It was my first skate and I was holding the wall the whole time!”
Miami Gardens resident Melissa Rodriguez also remembers her first visit. That was three years ago. They celebrated their sister-in-law’s birthday. “I’ve never done roller skating,” Rodriguez said. “The link had a great vibe. I liked the arcade section just how retro it felt.”
I first visited Madison Lopez Guerro in 2011. She is happy that she is still thriving. “Roller Link has always been a welcome place for older children and teens to hang out,” she commented.
Over the years, Hodgdon has noticed that his first skater is getting younger. “They imitate old skaters,” she said.
Customers and employees are confident that links are in good hands and will continue to thrive.
“I don’t think this link will go anywhere anytime anytime soon,” Hodgdon said. “So it’s more crowded every Saturday and Sunday.”
This story is the product of the partnership between the Lee Capri School of Journalism and Media and the Miami Herald.
