{"id":216103,"date":"2026-03-12T07:06:10","date_gmt":"2026-03-12T07:06:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/216103\/"},"modified":"2026-03-12T07:06:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T07:06:10","slug":"beloved-long-beach-retro-roller-rink-announces-closure-after-five-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/216103\/","title":{"rendered":"Beloved Long Beach retro roller rink announces closure after five years"},"content":{"rendered":"

In late February, Pigeon\u2019s Roller Rink announced<\/a> it\u2019d be closing its 2nd and PCH location on March 13.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The news might have come as a surprise to the Long Beach community, but owner Shayna \u201cPigeon\u201d Meikle said that they knew it was coming.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are really really grateful that 2ND and PCH and the property management there has given us this opportunity for this long,\u201d she said. \u201cWe were only supposed to be there for three months and they worked it to push it and push it to let us stay there.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Despite what seems to be bad news for the skate rink and Long Beach community, Meikle said she is grateful nonetheless, and views it as a bittersweet moment. She thanked the management at CenterCal and the landlords for giving her an opportunity and taking a risk on Pigeon\u2019s.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI want the people of Long Beach to understand that we\u2019re lucky, we were so lucky to have this opportunity and even though it\u2019s sad, the memories can\u2019t be taken away,\u201d she tearfully said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"A father holds up his child while they learn to skate during the midday session at Pigeon\u2019s Roller Rink in Long Beach on Dec. 22, 2021. (Richard H. Grant | Siganl Tribune)<\/p>\n

The three-month pop-up turned into something larger for the Long Beach community, showing the impact small businesses can have on the community.<\/p>\n

\u201c[Long Beach deserves] a roller rink. They deserve places where they can be safe and to enjoy themselves and focus on joy \u2014 every city deserves it,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Meikle said the outpouring of support from local residents is magical, as she began to tear up thinking back to the start of Pigeon\u2019s.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The rink was initially supposed to be an extension of her roller derby league<\/a>, which lost their venue during COVID. Once she toured the space however, it made her flip the script. She decided to start a rink and said the universe made it happen, which felt like a calling to her.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe roller rink had a life of its own, it had a culture of its own and a community of its own. It had so many people supporting it from landlords to management to the city to the people and it really was a magical thing that happened,\u201d Meikle said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

With Pigeon\u2019s bringing in thousands of skaters to the rink monthly<\/a>, companies, brokerages and malls have reached out to start a new Pigeon\u2019s location of their own. Meikle said they have things in the works but they\u2019d really want a home in Long Beach.<\/p>\n

\"\"Customers browse some of the skates on display at Pigeon\u2019s Roller Skate Shop on 4th Street in Long Beach, CA, on July 21, 2021. The mural by artist Jacquelin de Leon was painted when the shop opened in 2019. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat the public can do to help us is word of mouth. There\u2019s definitely a landlord out there who needs their location activated that is willing to do a revenue share,\u201d she said. \u201cI just need to find those people.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Community members can still glide over to Meikle\u2019s storefront, Pigeon\u2019s Roller Skate Shop<\/a> (2148 E. Fourth St.) for skate rentals.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to thank Long Beach for showing up and making it feel like their roller rink. That felt so good to me that people felt so at home there,\u201d Meikle said as she reflected on the 2ND and PCH roller rink. \u201cJust a deep heartfelt thank you for making everyone\u2019s dreams come true for the last five years.\u201d<\/p>\n

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