For many people, Great Skate used to be the “hangout spot”, and for many, it still is. While it’s still the same place people know and love, Great Skate has made some changes recently regarding the arcade area. The switch from cash and coins to a card system has brought more popularity and attention to the game machines. The card system has made it an easier system than carrying cash and quarters in your pocket.
“It’s been very popular, especially after we went from having tickets and quarters to run the machines, to we now have game cards like you see at Dave and Busters,” Assistant Manager Taylor Schrader said. “A lot more people have wanted to use it now that they don’t have to actually bring cash in to use our arcade machines.”
If you are looking for a place to rent out for a fun birthday party or a hockey practice, Great Skate is the perfect spot for it. For a private party, it is $575, and that includes the entire rink to yourself, the concession stands and arcade are open, and 40 skaters are welcome. There also is a DJ and you can either have them play music or you are able to bring in your own playlist for them to play. Of course, you can also rent the rink out for hockey groups too, as many teams who may need space to practice do.
“There is a cheaper rate where it’s about $100 an hour for a hockey group, because no other workers are needed to be here besides a manager,” Schrader said.
There are a lot of different jobs at Great Skate, varying from a floor guard to working at the concession stand. For a lot of teenagers, it can be hard to find a job, because some places don’t hire younger than 18. In contrast, Great Skate generally hires at around 15 to 16, and there is minimum to no experience necessary. Even if you start at minimum wage, employees tend to get raises fairly quickly.
“The owner of Great Skate likes to make sure that all the workers are taken care of, and then for any older people, so the students who are more so seniors, or getting ready to go into college, they will have a higher pay as well,” Schrader said.
Great Skate employees are friendly and helpful, and the environment is great for students of all ages working there. As the staff are easy to talk to and welcoming, Great Skate could be a good place for students to work at, especially freshman looking for their first job and want experience and money.
“[I would consider working at Great Skate] because my friend Jules works there, and I need money,” freshman Shelby Von Allmen said.
