Elaine Beck and Philip Morris took a leap of faith and left their careers to search for a more fulfilling path.
The couple felt inspired to open a skate shop after hosting their son’s birthday party at Scooter’s Roller Palace in Mississauga.
“We were skating around and we felt overwhelmingly fulfilled in that moment. It was emotional and it was our “ah-hah” moment. We felt we needed to seek more answers,” said Beck.
The couple discovered a high demand in the roller skating industry and began holding skating events of their own.
“It was great, lots of local kids came out. We started to get phone calls from local municipalities asking us to host roller skating events,” said Morris.
By 2020, the couple was fully booked. The demand led to Beck and Morris quitting their jobs and pursuing the skating business full time.
“We felt we could do something and live a really good life other than just existing,” said Beck.
The couple, residing in Wellesley, is set to open a location in Stratford at the end of June. Beck and Morris set eyes on the Stratford location one year ago.
“As soon as we came into the space, we knew this was the right location for us,” said Beck.
Located at 65 Albert Street, the studio holds a 750 square foot store selling premium skates, wheels, parts, tools, protective gear and laces. Behind the shop is a modern studio complete with a disco ball, lights, sound system and mirrors.
The studio offers a modern twist on roller skating including modern hit music and a space for freestyle skating. An inclusive and empowering environment, the studio is suitable for those stepping into skates for the first time or for those brushing up on old skills.
“It is not a traditional rolling skating rink. In a rink there are people that skate around the outside and some that stay in the middle. This studio is bringing the middle of the rink here, where people can freestyle, jam skate and practice choreography,” said Morris.
Designed as a safe zone to meet new people, the space offers classes and event bookings. The summer schedule will offer drop-in based classes. In the fall months, the studio will shift to a commitment-based schedule. Prices range from $10 to $25 per class.
“We are going to start off slow, that is our message that we are listening to what the community wants. We aren’t just locking into a program that isn’t changeable,” said Beck.
They hope to see people of all ages, backgrounds, cultures and experiences expressing their creativity freely at the new studio.
“We wanted to open a studio that is a welcoming environment and that has a look and feel of importance. We wanted the studio to make people feel like their hobby was one of quality,” said Beck.
