Belmont Iceland set to close: Owners point to financial impact of maintenance

“The cost of maintaining the ice and the building is greater than the owners are prepared to handle,” Belmont Iceland Assistant Manager Aaron Beecher said Wednesday afternoon. “It’s sad, it’s sad. Kids grew up skating here, I grew up skating here, most of our staff has skated here for years. It’s been a rough day.”

Beecher said officials intend to keep the rink open as long as possible, assuming they can retain current staff, which includes 15 employees and 25 skating instructors.

It will be the second rink San Mateo County has lost in the last few years following the controversial closure of Bridgepointe Shopping Center Ice Chalet in 2013. Unlike the Belmont facility, the Bridgepointe ice rink was called for in the site’s Master Plan and has prompted owner SPI Holdings to offer the city of San Mateo $3 million to demolish the facility.

Belmont Mayor Eric Reed said he was disappointed to find out the rink was closing and anticipates others in the community will be so as well. In brainstorming ways to keep recreational amenities within the county, Reed questioned whether the Bridgepointe funds could be used to help retain the Belmont ice rink.

“We’re slated to lose two ice rinks, this would allow us to keep at least one of those open,” Reed said. “I’m really intrigued by the idea. The Peninsula is fully developed, where else are you going to find land to build an ice rink in San Mateo County? How many more opportunities are there?”

The San Mateo City Council will ultimately decide whether to accept SPI’s $3 million offer and is tentatively scheduled to review the developer’s proposal in March. The San Mateo Planning Commission has routinely shot down the suggestion to demolish the rink, an integral component of the site’s Master Plan that’s been credited with allowing the center to be redeveloped.

The controversial proposal has coalesced a group of parents and skaters, known as the Save Our San Mateo Rink, that are seeking to preserve the integrity of the Master Plan and reopen the Bridgepointe facility.

SPI allegedly opted not to renew its contract with the former operator of the Bridgepointe rink, who reportedly wanted to stay, and has claimed it could make more money if it were allowed to construct retail in its place.

Over time, Belmont Iceland along with Nazareth Ice Oasis in Redwood City reportedly saw more skaters who’d previously used the now shuttered Bridgepointe rink.

Beecher agreed he noticed an increase at the Belmont site after the San Mateo locale closed. Now, Belmont Iceland is used by more than 600 skaters registered in classes, youth hockey players ages 4 to 10, various hockey leagues and offers an excellent free-style skating program as well as near daily public skating hours, he said.

Officials with the parent company East Bay Ice reassured their Belmont employees “it’s nothing that we did,” Beecher said. Adding he “thought we were doing OK but we’re in a very old building with very old systems.”

According to East Bay Iceland’s letter, time has taken a toll on the nearly 60-year-old facility. In 2013 alone, the company invested more than $300,000 on maintenance. Now, it is faced with another investment exceeding $1 million to replace the floor, upgrade the refrigeration plant, dehumidify the building and reinforce as well as protect the inside wooden structure of the roof, according to East Bay Iceland’s letter.

“At this point, it is no longer sustainable to continue the operation and we are sad and disappointed to have to close the facility,” according to the letter. “We want to thank all that have been part of this long history and supported our efforts to make Belmont Iceland a safe and enjoyable recreation venue.”

Once Belmont closes, the parent company will only have Dublin Iceland left, as it previously had to close Berkeley Iceland in 2009, Beecher said.

Foster City resident Kimberley Cane said she started skating when she was 11 years old and recently picked it back up as an adult for a means to remain healthy and active. With Bridgepointe closed, Cane said losing Belmont Iceland is that much harder.

“There are a lot of adults who are skating, it’s not just kids,” Cane said. “It’s an activity that can be done morning, noon or night; rain or shine. And to lose a second rink in the area in such a short time is just a devastating loss. It really just makes the efforts to keep Bridgepointe that more important.”

Belmont Iceland is located at 815 Old County Road, Belmont; visit www.belmonticeland.com for more information. Visit www.cityofsanmateo.org/index.aspx?nid=3000 for more information about SPI’s proposal to amend the Bridgepointe Master Plan.

samantha@smdailyjournal.com

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