Roller skaters bring back Stardust for 80s and 90s reunion
Iconic Surrey roller skating rink Stardust will once again be packed with partiers at an upcoming reunion
If you grew up in the 1970s, 1980s or 1990s in Metro Vancouver, there is a good chance you had your first kiss or your first fight at Stardust.
The roller skating rink — which had locations in North Vancouver, Richmond and Surrey —- was the place to be for teenagers.
Now those teens are all grown up and many of them want to reconnect with their old roller skating buddies.
That's why Krissy Williams is renting out the old Surrey rink and throwing a reunion party.
"It's where people grew up, and it's where we had fun times," says Williams.
"There wasn't much really for us to do back then and Stardust was a very popular place."
Williams brought up the idea of a reunion a couple of months ago on Facebook, and before long people from as far away as Ontario were asking for tickets.
The place to be
The Stardust location in Surrey officially closed in 2005, though it is still used for hockey tournaments and other events.
"Whether it was their first kiss, boyfriend or girlfriend or the first time they snuck a bottle of beer into the washroom, it was the place where a lot of fun things happened for people," said longtime manager Bonnie Burnside.
"There are a lot of memories there for a lot of people."
Family-friendly with an edge
In its heyday, Stardust was crawling with kids during the day and packed with teenagers at night.
If you were looking for wholesome fun, it was the perfect place to bring your family.
If it was trouble you were after, you could find that, too.
"We had a 'barred book' and any time somebody was barred from the rink, we would write their name down and why they were barred," said former employee Tracey Gravel.
"Some people were barred for life, like one guy who got caught smearing ketchup all over the skating floor."
Ketchup smearing wasn't the only transgression that took place at Stardust.
Williams remembers getting into a fight with a girl who was arguing with one of her friends.
"I felt bad because I did break the girl's nose, but we made up and I've grown up since then," Williams said.
"Later I wound up being good friends with the girl, and I don't fight anymore!"
Party like it's 1989
Williams wants partiers to bring old pictures and memorabilia to the parties on February 12, 13 and 20.
Tickets are selling for $15, but there are only a handful left.
Music, fashion and decor will follow an 80s and 90s theme and if you have a request for the DJ, you should get in quickly.
Williams knows what she wants to hear.
"Ballroom Blitz," she said, laughing.
"For the all-girls speed skate!"