Roller skating is back in Iowa City, with big dreams rolling alongside it.
The newly opened Glide & Go Skate City hopes to be more than just a roller rink—it’s designed to be a place of meaningful community connection.
Led by local entrepreneur Alicia Crews, the project was announced in August 2025 and officially opened on March 13 at the Iowa City Marketplace development, formerly known as the Sycamore Mall.
Crews grew up roller skating in Atlanta, Georgia, where the local roller rink was a central character in her teenage memories and became a lifelong passion.
“I was skating and going to the skating rink. Having that environment with my friends was an essential part of my teenage years,” Crews said. “I don’t know what I would have done if we didn’t have skating rinks.”
Crews’ dream of writing a book lured her to Iowa City in 2022, but she quickly noticed the lack of a roller rink, despite a large skating community in Iowa City. The town is home to multiple roller derby teams and free skate nights at the Robert A. Lee Community Center, but didn’t have a roller rink.
Crews pivoted, committed to establishing a community hotspot for the high-speed hobby.
“To be able to create spaces where families can have true connection and have good memories of each other is essential,” Crews said. “A lot of entertainment has become individualized. This space lets people step back out into the community.”
Iowa City roller rink turns ‘nothing into something’
Glide & Go Skate City occupies the 27,000-square-foot former Joann Fabrics space at 676 Sycamore St., anchored by a 19,000-square-foot concrete skating rink.
Originally scheduled to open in January, funding delays pushed the timeline back. Crews equates Glide & Go to the early stages of a tech startup, slowly building toward a broader vision. Its current state is the foundation for what she hopes the roller rink becomes.
“For us, we’re only about 20 to 30 percent of what we want to be,” Crews said. “When grants, loans, and funding went topsy-turvy, I had to look up in December and say, ‘Okay, now what? If I have nothing, what can I do?’”
Crews says she couldn’t secure funding through the Iowa Lift program, which supports small businesses looking to start or expand. She also struggled to find investors in Iowa City and Coralville.
Instead, Crews secured a loan through the Atlanta nonprofit Synergies Work, along with help from Sherwin-Williams, Home Depot, Ollie’s, Iowa City ReStore, and other donations. Crews also repurposed items left behind from JoAnn’s to turn “nothing” into something.
Her long-term vision includes adding a concession stand, a jungle gym, and a mezzanine.
Crews hopes to build not just a hotspot but a collaborative community space. Tate High School students volunteered to paint the mural that dances across the walls, while Crews has established membership programs that partner with other businesses.
“Whatever the community wants us to be is going to come about because of the community,” Crews said. “We’re ready to embrace what they need—but that requires support.”
Glide & Go Skate City emphasizes affordability, events and family access
Affordability is a key priority at Glide & Go Skate City.
Open skating is offered during afternoon and evening hours every day of the week. Skaters can bring their own skates or rollerblades or rent gear for $2.
Monthly memberships cost $20. The rink will also host multiple five-day “rhythm and roll” camps in June, July, and August. The facility hosts private events as well.
While the space might look different from the roller rinks of the early aughts, Glide & Go Skate City offers the same charm of roller discos, with programming like Comic-Con and hip-hop-themed nights, and adult-only sessions.
What to know about Glide & Go Skate City
Address: 676 Sycamore St., Iowa CIty
Hours: 2-6 p.m. Thursday, 1:30-4 p.m. and 5-9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2-7 p.m. Sunday.
Contact: glideandgoskatecity.com
Jessica Rish is an entertainment, dining and education reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. She can be reached at JRish@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @rishjessica_
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: New roller rink in Iowa City emphasizes access, community connection
Reporting by Jessica Rish, Iowa City Press-Citizen / Iowa City Press-Citizen
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